Patent attributes
A reaction zone is provided zone comprising a series of oxygen clean up zones and a series of oxidation zones. A first stream is introduced to oxidation clean up zones comprising liquid cyclohexane. Next, the first stream is passed downwardly from the oxygen clean up zones to the oxidation zones, while cross-currently passing the oxygen containing gas upwardly from the oxidation zones to the oxygen clean up zones. During the reaction, the oxidation zones are maintained at a temperature range of about 145° C. to about 170° C. The product mixture is withdrawn from the oxidation zones that comprises cyclohexylhydroperoxide (CHHP), cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol. An oxidation off-gas comprising less than 3.0% by volume of unreacted oxygen is withdrawn from the oxygen clean up zones.
