US 11,912,571 B2
Device and process for producing hydrogen peroxide by an anthraquinone process
Nils Henning Seidel, Frankfurt (DE); Johannes Kamp, Frankfurt (DE); Jürgen Glenneberg, Offenbach (DE); Christian Panz, Wesseling-Berzdorf (DE); Eduardo Federico Arévalo Saade, Erlensee (DE); and Hari Prasad Mangalapally, Hanau-Grossauheim (DE)
Assigned to Evonik Operations GmbH, Essen (DE)
Filed by EVONIK OPERATIONS GMBH, Essen (DE)
Filed on May 26, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/331,593.
Claims priority of application No. 20177047 (EP), filed on May 28, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0371281 A1, Dec. 2, 2021
Int. Cl. C01B 15/023 (2006.01); B01D 3/40 (2006.01)
CPC C01B 15/023 (2013.01) [B01D 3/40 (2013.01); C01P 2006/82 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
 
1. A device for producing hydrogen peroxide by an anthraquinone process, comprising:
a) a hydrogenator for hydrogenating a working solution comprising an alkylanthraquinone and/or an alkyltetrahydroanthraquinone and at least one water immiscible solvent for said alkylanthraquinone and/or alkyltetrahydroanthraquinone with a gas comprising molecular hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to provide a hydrogenated working solution;
b) an oxidizer for oxidizing the hydrogenated working solution with a gas, comprising molecular oxygen to provide an oxidized working solution containing dissolved hydrogen peroxide, said oxidizer being connected to said hydrogenator to receive said hydrogenated working solution;
c) an extractor for extracting hydrogen peroxide with an aqueous extractant from oxidized working solution containing dissolved hydrogen peroxide to provide a dilute aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution, said extractor being connected to said oxidizer to receive said oxidized working solution containing dissolved hydrogen peroxide;
d) a distillation unit for concentrating an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution to provide a concentrated aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution and an aqueous condensate, said distillation unit comprising a hydrogen peroxide evaporator, a distillation column receiving vapor from said hydrogen peroxide evaporator and a vapor compressor receiving overhead vapor from said distillation column and passing compressed vapor as heating medium to said hydrogen peroxide evaporator, said distillation unit being connected to said extractor to receive said dilute aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution; and
e) a purification unit comprising a bed of a cation exchange resin in its protonated form for purifying said aqueous condensate to provide a purified condensate, said purification unit being connected to said distillation unit to receive said aqueous condensate as feed and being connected to (i) said extractor, passing purified condensate as aqueous extractant to said extractor, or (ii) said distillation unit, passing purified condensate as a column reflux to said distillation column, or (iii) a hydrogen peroxide dilution device, passing purified condensate as diluent to the hydrogen peroxide dilution device, or (iv) any combination of (i) to (iii); and wherein said purification unit comprises a first filter upstream of said bed of cation exchange resin.