Cyclohexane Research Paper

Introduction
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company is the major producer of Cyclohexane. This successful company hoses the three largest cyclohexane plants in the world. Many are puzzled by how the production of cyclohexane seems to have become stagnant. Perhaps this is due to the cost of benzene increasing or the demand increasing. Through thorough investigation, the answer to this question and many more can be answered. There are two methods of obtaining cyclohexane. These two methods are fractional distillation of naphtha and hydrogenation of benzene. Research suggest that the hydrogenation of benzene is the most economical way to create our chemical of choice. According to ICIS, cyclohexane is used in the production of adipic acid used to

Benzene, hydrogen and recycled cyclohexane with platinum catalyst contains low sulfur poisoning while nickel catalyst are permanently poisoned by sulfur.()Cyclohexane from petroleum is a complicated process which yields 85 wt. % purity. It is not a widely used method due to the close range of boiling points between byproducts dimethyl pentanes in natural cyclohexane concentrate. “It’s impractical to produce high purity yield.” ()
Physical and Chemical Properties
Cyclohexane is a highly flammable liquid. It is colorless, mobile, water-insoluble, non-corrosive, easily vaporized and less toxic than benzene. Structurally it is a cycloparaffin and more times than not is in the Chair

The crude oil is heated in a tall cylinder called fractionator for at least 350 degC. The process is based on the principle that different substances boil at different temperature. The cyclohexane content of naphtha fraction of crude oil can vary from 0.5 to 5.0 volume %. N-hexane, isohexanes, methyl cyclopentane, benzene and dimethyl pentanes have normal boiling points very close to cyclohexane.1

Advantages:
1. Uses a simple method of cyclohexane recovery.
Disadvantages:
1. The fractions in the fractional distillation such as N-hexane, isohexane, methyl cyclopentane have normal boiling point close to cyclohexane which makes the recovery of cyclohexane uneconomic and difficult.
2. Quantity of cyclohexane recovered is not enough to meet the current demand since the cyclohexane content of naphtha is about 5%- 15% by weight .3
Selection of Pathway to Cyclohexane (2)
Hydrogenation of Benzene:
C6H6 +3H2 → C6H12
Possible side reactions:
C6H6 + nH2 → cracking products
C6H12 (benzene) ↔ C6H12 (methyl cyclo pentane)
C6H6 + nH2 → C +