Integrated process and catalysts for manufacturing hydrogen iodide from hydrogen and iodine

Abstract

The present invention provides a process for producing hydrogen iodide. The process includes providing a vapor-phase reactant stream comprising hydrogen and iodine and reacting the reactant stream in the presence of a catalyst to produce a product stream comprising hydrogen iodide. The catalyst includes at least one selected from the group of nickel, cobalt, iron, nickel oxide, cobalt oxide, and iron oxide. The catalyst is supported on a support.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for producing hydrogen iodide, the process comprising:
 providing a vapor-phase reactant stream comprising hydrogen and iodine;   reacting the reactant stream in the presence of a catalyst to produce a product stream comprising hydrogen iodide (HI), unreacted iodine (12) and unreacted hydrogen (H2);   separating unreacted iodine,   condensing a stream comprising hydrogen iodide (HI); and   optionally venting or recycling a stream comprising unreacted hydrogen (H2).   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein separating the unreacted iodine further comprises 
 cooling the unreacted iodine, and   separating the unreacted iodine from the product stream as solid iodine.   
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 2 , further comprising heating the solid iodine to produce liquid iodine;
 vaporizing the liquid iodine, and   returning the vaporized iodine to the reactant stream.   
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , comprising separating at least some of the unreacted iodine from the product stream 
 by cooling the product stream to form solid iodine, the solid iodine forming in one of: 
 a first iodine removal vessel; or 
 a second iodine removal vessel; 
   producing liquid iodine from the solid iodine by: 
 heating the first iodine removal vessel to liquefy the solid iodine when cooling the product stream through the second iodine removal vessel; or 
 heating the second iodine removal vessel to liquefy the solid iodine when cooling the product stream through the first iodine removal vessel; and 
   recycling the liquified iodine to the reacting step.   
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 3 , wherein the process is a continuous process. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1 , the process further comprising the additional steps of: separating the unreacted hydrogen from the product stream; and returning the separated hydrogen to the reactant stream. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 4 , wherein separating the unreacted hydrogen from the product stream includes:
 compressing the product stream; and   subjecting the compressed product stream to flash cooling.   
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 6 , wherein the process is a continuous process. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 7 , wherein in the compressing step, the product stream is compressed to a pressure from about 10 kPag to about 2,000 kPag. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 7 , wherein in the compressing step, the product stream is compressed to a pressure from about 300 kPag to about 1.500 kPag. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 7 , wherein in the compressing step, the product stream is compressed to a pressure from about 600 kPag to about 1,000 kPag. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the process further comprises the additional steps of
 separating the unreacted iodine from the product stream as solid iodine,   heating the solid iodine to produce liquid iodine,   returning the liquid iodine to the reactant stream,   separating the hydrogen from the product stream by compressing the product stream, and   subjecting the compressed product stream to flash cooling, and   returning the separated hydrogen to the reactant stream,   wherein the process is a batch process.   
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the process further comprises the additional steps of 
 separating the unreacted iodine from the product stream as solid iodine,   heating the solid iodine to produce liquid iodine,   returning the liquid iodine to the reactant stream,   separating the hydrogen from the product stream by compressing the product stream, and   subjecting the compressed product stream to flash cooling, and   returning the separated hydrogen to the reactant stream,   wherein the process is a continuous process.   
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the process comprises reacting hydrogen and iodine in the vapor phase at a mole ratio of the hydrogen to the iodine from about 2:1 to about 5:1 in the presence of a catalyst a reaction temperature from about 200° C. to about 500° C. and a contact time of from about 2 seconds to about 100 seconds.