EP1390329A2

EP1390329A2 - Microcrystalline paraffin-

Info

Publication number: EP1390329A2
Application number: EP02732741A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michael Matthäi; Günter Hildebrand; Helmuth Schulze-Trautmann; Thorsten Butz
Original assignee: Sasol Wax GmbH
Current assignee: Hywax GmbH
Priority date: 2001-05-30
Filing date: 2002-05-31
Publication date: 2004-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 2022-05-31
Also published as: PL203361B1; WO2002096842A3; US7875166B2; AU2002304654A1; PL368411A1; CN1668722B; RU2276184C2; DE10126516A1; US20040192979A1; CN1668722A; WO2002096842A2; RU2003137572A; CN101892080B; CN101892080A; JP2004529192A; EP1390329B1; ZA200300781B; ES2408810T3

Abstract

The invention relates to a novel and completely synthetic microcrystalline paraffin, said paraffin being obtained in a simple manner and with a high yield by the catalytic hydromerisation of paraffin FT comprising 20 to 105 carbon atoms. Said paraffins can be pasty to solid at room temperature and have a higher percentage of iso-paraffins than n-paraffins. Since they do not contain aromatic compounds they are particularly suitable for use in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries.

Description

Microcrystalline paraffin

The invention relates to a microcrystalline paraffin, its production and its use.

5

Conventional petroleum-derived microcrystalline paraffin (also called

Microwaxes known) consists of a mixture of saturated hydrocarbons which are solid at room temperature and have a chain length distribution of C ₂₅ to C ₈₀ .

I _{* In} addition to n-alkanes, the microcrystalline paraffins contain many branched iso-alkanes and alkyl-substituted cycloalkanes (naphthenes) as well as - albeit generally small - fractions of aromatics. The content of iso-alkanes and naphthenes is between 40 and 70% determined according to the EWF standard

_« Test Method for Analysis of Hydrocarbonwax by Gaschromatography. The quantitative dominance of iso-alkanes (and naphthenes) determines their microcrystalline structure.

<M The solidification range is between 50 and 100 ° C according to DIN ISO 2207. The needle penetration has values between 2 x 10 ^_1 and 160 x 10 ^_1 mm according to DIN 51579. The solidification point and the needle penetration are used to distinguish between plastic and hard paraffin among the microcrystalline paraffins.

25th microcrystalline paraffins. Soft plastic microcrystalline paraffins

(so-called petrolates) are brisk with strong adhesive strength, and they have solidification points of 65 to 70 ° C and penetration values of 45 to 160 x 10 ^_1 mm. The oil contents are between 1 and 15%. Plastic microcritical

35 stalline paraffins are easy to form and knead and have solidification points between 65 and 80 ° C and penetration values from 10 to 30 x 10 ^_1 mm. The oil content can be up to 5%. The hard microcrystalline paraffins are tough and weakly adhesive with solidification points of 80 to 95 ° C and penis

35 tration values 2 to 15 x 10 ^_1 mm. The maximum oil content is 2% (see Ullmanns Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, VCH publishing company 1996).

Microcrystalline paraffins have a high molecular weight and thus high boiling points. So far, they have been obtained from the residues of vacuum distillation of petroleum, in particular in the production of lubricating oil (residue waxes), as well as from excretions of the petroleum during its production, transport and storage, in technologically very complex and cost-intensive processes with several Stages, for example deasphalting, solvent extraction, dewaxing, deoiling and refining. The de-oil

10 microcrystalline paraffins contain sulfur, nitrogen and oxygen compounds as impurities. As a result, they are not completely odorless and have a dark yellow to dark brown color. Depending on the subsequent use, the necessary refining is carried out by bleaching (technical applications) or by hydrorefining (applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries).

Microcrystalline paraffins are mainly used as a mixture component in Pa¬

.0 raffin or wax mixtures used. However, they are mostly used in areas up to 5%. The main aim is to increase the hardness and melting point of these mixtures and to improve flexibility and oil retention. Typical applications are, for example, the production of waxes for impregnation, Be¬

25 layers and laminating for the packaging and textile industries, of heat seal and hot melt adhesives as well as of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, including chewing gum. Furthermore, they are used for potting and cable masses and generally for plastics, but also in candle,

30 Rubber and tire industries as well as care, anti-slip and anti-corrosion agents.

DE 69418388 T2 describes a hydroisomerization of at room temperature

S solid n-paraffins with more than 15 carbon atoms using a catalyst tors on the basis of a metal of group VIII, in particular platinum, and a boron silicate with a structure of ß-zeolites to products which are suitable for the production of lubricating oils. (Page 1)

The following zeolites were specifically mentioned: Omega zeolite, ZSN-5, X zeolite, Y zeolite and other zeolites.

DE 695 15 959 T2 describes the hydroisomerization of wax-containing feedstocks to products which are suitable for the production of lubricating oils. A temperature of 270 ° to 360 ° C and a pressure of 500 to 1,500 psi or from 3.44 MPa to 10.36 MPa are used. The catalyst is based on a catalyzing metal component on a porous, heat-resistant metal oxide support (see page 2, paragraph 1), in particular on 0.1 to 5% by weight of platinum on aluminum oxide or zeolites, such as e.g. Offretit, Zeolite X, Zeolite Y, ZSM -5, ZSM-2 etc. (see page 3, middle). The feed material to be isomerized can be any wax or wax-containing material, in particular also a Fischer-Tropsch wax (see page 5, center). The hydrogen is fed to the reactor at a rate of 1,000 to 10,000 SCF / bbl and the wax with 0.1 to 10 LHSV (see page 6, center). The isomerization product is liquid (see page 7, line 7). It can be fractionated by distillation or by treatment with solvents, e.g. with a MEK / toluene mixture (see page 7, last paragraph).

All of the liquid product from the isomerization plant is more advantageously treated in a second stage under mild conditions using the Group VIII noble metal isomerization catalyst and a refractory metal oxide to reduce PNA and other contaminants in the isomer and thus an oil with improved daylight resistance (see page 8, paragraph 2). Mild conditions are understood to mean: a temperature in the range of approximately 170 ° to 270 ° C, a pressure of about 300 to 1,500 psL, a hydrogen gas rate of about 500 to 1,000 SCF / bbl and a flow rate of about 0.25 to 10 vol./vol./h.

DE 38 72851 T2 describes the production of a middle distillate fuel from a paraffin wax, in particular an FT wax (see claim 2), in which the wax under hydroisomerization conditions in the presence of a certain catalyst based on a metal of VIII. Group, in particular platinum (claim 12), and aluminum oxide as a carrier material is treated with hydrogen, so that a middle formate product and a bottom product with an initial boiling point above 371 ° C. are obtained (see claim 1), in particular one Lubricating oil fraction with a low pour point (see claim 5). The wax is fed to the reactor at a rate of 0.2 to 2 V / V. The hydrogen is fed to the reactor at a rate of about 0.089 to 2.67 m 3 H2 per 11 wax. The catalyst has a decisive influence on the conversion. If it is based on platinum and a β-zeolite with a pore diameter of about 0.7 nm, the desired conversion to a middle distillate product is not observed, especially when the temperature decreases to 293.9 ° C. (see example 3).

In contrast, the invention is concerned with the task of specifying a novel microcrystalline paraffin, a process for its production and the use of this microcrystalline paraffin.

This object is achieved first and foremost in the subject matter of claim 1 (product) or claim 5 (method) or claim 10 (use). Here it is assumed that the microcrystalline paraffin, which can be produced by catalytic hydroisomerization at temperatures above 200 ° C., from paraffins (FT paraffins) containing Fischer-Tropsch synthesis with a C chain length distribution in the range from C ₂₀ to C ₁₀₅ . ben is. It has surprisingly been found that such a microcrystalline paraffin is free of naphthenes and aromatics. It is also surprising that crystallinity has been retained despite isomerization. Continuous production with defined properties is possible. A product to be called micro wax in the low and high freezing point range is provided. A continuous or discontinuous catalytic hydroisomerization of Fischer-Tropsch paraffins (FT paraffins) can be carried out. With regard to FT paraffins as such, reference is made in particular to A. Kühnle in Fette. Soap. Anstrichmittel, 84th year, pages 156 ff. "Fischer-

IQ Tropsch waxes synthesis, structure, properties and applications ". In short, the FT paraffins are paraffins which, according to the Fischer-Tropsch process, are made in a known way from synthesis gas (CO and H2) in the presence of a catalyst were produced at an elevated temperature.

15 They represent the highest-boiling fraction of the hydrocarbon mixture. The result is essentially long-chain, little-branched alkanes that are free of naphthenes and aromatics as well as oxygen and sulfur compounds.

Such FT paraffins with a high proportion of n-paraffins and a C chain length in the range from C ₂₀ to C ₁₀₅ become high-melting, microcrystalline paraffins with a high by the J _E process described here

Share of iso-paraffins converted.

The microcrystalline paraffin is according to the process aspect of the invention

“Can be produced by catalytic isomerization as follows:

31)

A. Use of FT paraffin as starting material a) with a C chain length in the range from C ₂₀ to C ₁₀₅ , ,, b) preferably with a solidification point in the range from 70 to 105 ° C, in particular about 70, 80, 95 or 105 ° C according to DIN ISO 2207, c) penetration at 25 ° C from 1 to 15; d) a ratio of iso to n-alkanes of 1: 5 to 1:11

B. Use of a catalyst, preferably in the form of extrudates, spheres, tablets, granules or powders, advantageously on the basis of a) 0.1 to 2.0, in particular 0.4 to 1.0,% by weight, based on the catalyst annealed at 800 ° C., on hydrogenating metal of the eighth subgroup, in particular platinum, and b) a support material made of a zeolite with a pore diameter in the range from 0.5 to 0.8 nm (5.0 to 8.0 Å) .

C application of a process temperature of more than 200, in particular 230 to 270 ° C,

D. Application of a pressure of 2.0 to 20.0, in particular of approximately 3 to 8 MPa in the presence of hydrogen and a ratio of hydrogen to FT paraffin of 100: 1 to 1000: 1, in particular approximately 250: 1 to 600: l Nm ³ / m ³ .

The loading of the reactor with the FT paraffin is expediently in the range from 0.1 to 2.0, in particular from 0.2 to 0.8 v / v. h (volume of FT paraffin per volume of the reactor within one hour).

The yield of hydroisomerizates is between 90 and 96% by mass, based on the FT paraffin used in each case. With regard to low-melting alkanes, the hydroisomerizates obtained still contained alkanes in the C chain length range <= C ₂₀ up to 5% (usually up to 3%). These alkanes were easily removed by vacuum distillation with steam.

The catalyst used is preferably formed on the basis of a? Zeolite.

5

The catalytic hydroisomerization of the FT paraffins is preferably carried out continuously in a flow reactor with a fixed catalyst, in particular in the form of extrudates, spheres or tablets, where

U the reactor, if, as is preferred, oriented vertically, can be flowed through from top to bottom and from bottom to top. The process can also be carried out discontinuously in e.g. be carried out in a stirred autoclave in a batch process, the catalyst in a permeable

Is contained or is used in granular or powder form in the FT paraffin. The process parameters of the continuous and discontinuous processes are the same.

2 _(j The microcrystalline paraffins obtained according to the invention have the following properties:

Compared to the FT paraffins used, they have lower solidification points and, in addition to n-alkanes, contain a high, in particular higher proportion by weight of iso- than n-alkanes. The proportion of n- or iso-alkanes is determined by gas chromatography. The increased degree of isomerization achieved by the hydroisomerization is expressed in increased penetration values, a reduced degree of crystallization and a reduced one

Fusion. In addition, these products have a pasty to sticky consistency with a somewhat crumbly appearance.

, _c The degree of crystallization is determined by an X-ray diffraction analysis. It denotes the crystalline fraction in the product obtained in relation to that amorphous portion. The amorphous components lead to a different diffraction of the X-rays than the crystalline components. The needle penetration at 25 ° C. in the products according to the invention is in the range from 20 to 160, measured according to. DIN 51579. The products obtained are solid at 20 ° C in the sense that they do not run.

The crystalline fraction is particularly reduced as follows: While a crystalline fraction occurs in a range of 60 to 75% in the feed, a 30 to 45% fraction is observed in the hydroisomerizate. Especially in the range of 35 to 40 (36, 37, 38, 39)%.

The crystalline fractions and the amorphous fractions are each indicated in MA% by the X-ray diffraction analysis mentioned.

The microcrystalline paraffins produced according to the invention from FT paraffins have physical and material properties which are similar or comparable to those of petroleum-based microcrystalline paraffins (microwaxes).

The microcrystalline paraffins produced by catalytic hydroisomerization can also be deoiled with a solvent. However, this does not mean that the hydroisomerization products described have a content of conventional oil. In any case, very short-chain n- or iso-alkanes are removed. When using a solvent mixture of dichloroethane: toluene of 95: 5 parts by volume and a product / solvent ratio of 1: 3.6 parts at 22 ° C., a deoiled microcrystalline paraffin is obtained in a yield of 80 to 90% by weight, based on the amount used Hydroisomerate obtained. It has the following properties It has the following properties:

- needle penetration: from 1 x 10 ^_1 to 7 x 10 ^_1 , in particular 3 x 10 ^_1 to 6 x 10 ^"1 mm, determined according to DIN 51579, Oil content: 1.0 to 2% by weight, in particular 1.2 to 1.6% by weight, determined by MIBK according to modified ASTM D 721/87

- Solidification point: approx. 60 to approx. 95 ° C, in particular 70 to 85 ° C _/ determined according to DIN ISO 2207.

Removing the oil turned the medium-hard product into a hard product when compared to petroleum-based types. Then the deoiled hydroisomerisate is comparable to the hardest types based on petroleum.

Because of its properties, the microcrystalline hydroisomerizate prepared in accordance with the invention and the corresponding deoiled microcrystalline hydroisomerizate can be used like a micro wax (see introduction). In particular, the hydroisomerate obtained can also be oxidized. It will

15 obtained oxidized products, which differ according to melting range and degree of oxidation and are used primarily as corrosion protection agents and as cavity and underbody protection agents for motor vehicles. They are also used in emulsions as care and release agents and as an additive for printing and

Carbon paper colorants used.

The acid and ester groups, which are statistically distributed over hydrocarbon chains, can be converted with inorganic or organic bases to formulations which are dispersible in water (emulsifying waxes) and lead to products with very good metal adhesion.

Other areas of application include the manufacture of impregnation, coating and laminating waxes for the packaging and textile industries. Heat seal and hot melt adhesives as a blend component in candles and other wax products in wax mixtures for crayons, floor and car care products as well as for dental technology and pyrochemicals. They are also part of light protection waxes for the tire industry, electrical insulation materials, scaffold and model waxes for the investment casting industry, and wax formulation for explosives, ammunition and propellant technology.

Products of this type are also suitable as release agents in the pressing of wood, particle board and fiberboard in the production of ceramic parts and, because of their retention capacity, for the production of solvent-based care products, grinding and polishing pastes and as matting agents for paints.

Furthermore, these products can be used for the formulation of adhesive waxes, cheese waxes, cosmetic preparations, chewing gum bases, cast and cable masses, sprayable pesticides, petroleum jelly, artificial chimney logs, lubricants and hot melt adhesives.

A food safety test is carried out, for example, according to FDA, § 175. 250.

The invention will now be explained in detail by means of examples.

Example 1:

An FT paraffin with a solidification point at 97 ° C. was catalytically isomerized with hydrogen at a pressure of 5 MPa (50 bar), a temperature of 270 ° C. and a v / vh ratio of 0.3. The hydroisomerization that occurred was documented by key figures in Table 1.

The hydroisomerisate is white, odorless and slightly sticky and is therefore very different from the brittle, hard product. The iso-alkane content is increased about 6 times, which is due to the increased penetration value, the reduced teren crystalline portion and the lowered enthalpy of fusion is documented. The synthetic, microcrystalline paraffin thus produced can be classified according to its characteristic values between a plastic and a hard, petroleum-based microwax. With the hydroisomer, a paraffin with a pronounced microcrystalline structure was obtained, the C chain length distribution of which, based on the carbon atoms, was 23 to 91 in roughly corresponds to that of the input product with 27 to 95, but just shifted towards smaller chain lengths. The chain length was determined by gas chromatography.

10

Example 2:

An FT paraffin with a solidification point at 70 ° C. was catalytically isomerized with hydrogen at a pressure of 5 MPa (50 bar), a temperature of 250 ° C. and a v / vh ratio of 0.3. The structural change that occurred was documented by the key figures in the table.

.. The hydroisomerisate is white and odorless as well as pasty and slightly sticky. The iso-alkane content is increased about 5 times. The high degree of isomerization is expressed in the significantly increased penetration value, the reduced crystalline fraction and the reduced melting enthalpy. The so obtained

, - microcrystalline paraffin has a similar but somewhat reduced C-.

Chain length like the FT paraffin, which is clear from the carbon atoms: 23 to 42 for the hydroisomerisate and 25 to 48 for the FT paraffin. The synthetic microcrystalline paraffin produced in this way is, according to its characteristic values, a soft plastic microcrystalline paraffin obtained on the basis of petroleum

30 comparable.

Examples 1 and 2 show that the FT-

Paraffins, which mainly consist of n-alkanes and have a fine crystalline structure and a brittle-hard consistency, in non-flowing, pasty or solid paraffins were converted, which have lower melting temperatures than the feed products. These paraffins are characterized by a high content of branched alkanes and consequently have a microcrystalline structure with a significantly reduced degree of crystallization as well as a plastic to slightly sticky consistency. The branched alkanes are predominantly methyl alkanes, the methyl groups preferably occurring in the 2-, 3-, 4- or 5-position. Poly-branched alkanes were also formed to a small extent.

The results of Examples 1 and 2, compared with the feed product, are summarized in the attached Table 1.

Example 3:

A catalyst (cylindrical extrudate, diameter 1.5 mm, length approx. 5 mm) was used uncrushed. 92 ml of catalyst were poured undiluted into the reactor tube (total volume 172 ml, inner diameter 22 mm). The catalyst zone was also covered with the earth material. A thermocouple was positioned in the reactor so that the temperature was measured at a depth of 2 cm and 17 cm of the catalyst bed. The catalysts were dried and activated (water is expelled by high temperature and platinum is reduced).

An FT paraffin C80 (solidification point 81 ° C., mass ratio n- / iso-paraffins: 93.9 / 6.1) was used as the paraffin feed product. The oil content of the starting product was 0.5%. The needle penetration value 6.0.

The tests were carried out at a hydrogen pressure of 50 bar. The following results were achieved: At 260 ° C. and 0.96 v / vh, the iso fraction (MA%) increased from 6.1 (FT paraffin) to 42 (hydroisomerizate). The solidification point was 77 ° C, the oil content 18.8%. The needle penetration value 32.

The catalyst was a platinum catalyst on beta zeolite. ß -Zeolithen is referred to the reference "Atlas of Zeolithe Strucüire-type", Elsevier Fourth Revised Edition, 1996.

Gas chromatograms obtained for this example are attached.

In contrast to the microcrystalline paraffins obtained from petroleum, the fully synthetic microcrystalline paraffins produced by the hydroisomerization according to the invention contain no highly branched iso-alkanes, no cyclic hydrocarbons (naphthenes) and in particular no aromatics and sulfur compounds. They meet the highest purity requirements for microcrystalline paraffins and are therefore ideally suited for use in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries as well as for packaging and preservation in the food industry.

Table: Characteristic values of starting materials and reaction products

Claims

EXPECTATIONS

1. Microcrystalline paraffin, producible by catalytic hydroisomerization at temperatures above 200 ° C. from FT paraffins with a C chain length distribution in the range from 20 to 105.

2. Microcrystalline paraffin according to claim 1 or in particular according thereto, characterized in that it is not liquid at 25 ° C, but

10 at least pasty with a needle penetration of less than 100 x 10 ^_1 mm, measured according to DIN 51579.

3. Microcrystalline paraffin according to claim 1 or in particular according thereto, characterized in that it is free from aromatic heterocyclic compounds.

4. 4. Microcrystalline paraffin according to claims 1, 2 or 3 or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the proportion by weight of the iso-alkanes is greater than that of the n-alkanes.

5. A method for producing a microcrystalline paraffin, in particular a microcrystalline paraffin according to any one of claims 1 to 4, by catalytic hydroisomerization

A. Use of FT paraffins as starting material with carbon - _j . Atoms in the range from 20 to 105 and

B. Use of a catalyst

"C. Using a process temperature greater than 200 ° C and D. Exposure to pressure in the presence of hydrogen

c

6. The method according to claim 5 or in particular according thereto, characterized by the use of a catalyst based on a zeolite, preferably β-zeolite with a. Pore size between 0.50 and 0.80 µm as a carrier material and a metal of the 8th subgroup as an M active component.

7. The method according to any one of claims 5 or 6 or in particular since after, characterized in that it is carried out at elevated pressure and elevated _j e temperature.

8. The method according to any one of claims 5 or 7 or in particular according thereto, characterized by a process temperature of 200 to 300 °

20 ^C.

9. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 8 or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the pressure is 2 to 20 MPa.

25

10. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 9 or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the pressure is 3 to 8 MPa.

11. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 10 or in particular since, characterized by a process temperature of 230 to 270 ° C.

"12. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 8 or in particular according thereto, characterized by a feed ratio of hydrogen to FT paraffin from 100: 1 to 1,000: 1 Nm ³ per m ³ .

13. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 12 or in particular since, characterized by a feed ratio of hydrogen to FT paraffin of 250: 1 to 600: 1 Nm ³ per m ³ .

14. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 13 or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the work is carried out with a load of 0.1 to 2.0 v / vh, preferably 0.2 to 0.8 v / vh.

15. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 14, or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the catalyst has a pore size between 0.55 to 0.76 nm.

16. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 15, or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the catalyst has a hydrogenation metal component of subgroup VIII of the periodic table.

17. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 16, or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the catalyst has tall platinum as Hydrierme.

18. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 17, or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the platinum content of the catalyst is 0.1 to 2.0 mass%, preferably 0.4 to 1.0 mass%, based on the catalyst annealed at 800 ° C.

19. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 18, or in particular since, characterized in that the FT paraffin in a solidification point range from 70 to 105 ° C, preferably with solidification point 70, 80, 95 or 105 ° C is used.

20. Use of the microcrystalline paraffins according to claims 1 to 4 and the microcrystalline paraffins produced according to process claims 5 to 9 in the pharmaceutical or cosmetic field or in the food industry.