Process for the co-production of alkyl mercaptan and dialkyl disulfide from alcohol

• Main Authors: Lamant, Eric, Fremy, Georges, Raymond, Jean-Michel
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 13.02.2024
• Subjects: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS; CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY; ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

The invention relates to a process for the co-production of alkyl mercaptan and of dialkyl disulfide, comprising the following successive steps:a) reaction of a C1-C4 alcohol in the presence of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) to form a stream (M) comprising an alkyl mercaptan, water, and possibly unreacted hydrogen sulfide,b) purification of the stream (M) to obtain a stream (N) enriched in alkyl mercaptan,c) recovery of a first portion of the stream (N) including the alkyl mercaptan purified in step b),d) oxidation with sulfur of the second portion of the stream (N) of alkyl mercaptan, to form a stream (O) comprising a dialkyl disulfide, hydrogen sulfide, and possibly unreacted alkyl mercaptan,e) purification of the stream (O) to separate, on the one hand, the enriched dialkyl disulfide and, on the other hand, the hydrogen sulfide and possibly the alkyl mercaptan that has not reacted in step d),f) recycling of the hydrogen sulfide and possibly of the alkyl mercaptan isolated in step e) into the stream (M) obtained from step a),g) recovery of the dialkyl disulfide isolated in step e).