Integrations of catalytic isomerization to adsorptive separation for the production of high purity 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene

In this study, an alternative non-energy intensive system for the production of 2,6-DMN (catalytic isomerization in a solvent media and adsorptive purification) was investigated using the pulse test technique. The integrations of the isomerization to the adsorption were accomplished in two different approaches; subsequent adsorption after the isomerization and the reactive adsorption based technique. By subsequently connecting the adsorption unit after the isomerization with the selected adsorbent, catalyst and desorbent, the system shows a potential for producing high purity 2,6-DMN. Moreover, the results also suggest a possibility to enhance the overall productivity of 2,6-DMN by separating the chemical from the product stream during the isomerization. However, the results from the reactive adsorption study indicate only a narrow possible operating window for the high purity 2,6-DMN production. Carrying out the system at the temperatures that the isomerization can reach its equilibrium entails the reduction in either the 2,6-DMN separation due to the very fast in the reaction kinetics or the 2,6-DMN yield by the backward isomerization from 2,6- to 1,6- and 1,5-DMN. On the other hand, operating the system below the equilibrium of the isomerization at appropriate temperatures is only a possible approach to produce high purity 2,6-DMN using the reactive adsorption technique.