GB400580A - Improvements in the production of valuable products from liquid or liquefiable hydrocarbons containing aromatic substances - Google Patents

Abstract

Refined products are obtained from liquid or liquefiable hydrocarbons containing aromatics by wholly or in part removing the aromatics, e.g. by solvents, and then treating with hydrogen or carbon monoxide at elevated temperature and an elevated pressure which may be above 100 atmospheres when the initial treatment has removed little but aromatics but is otherwise below 100 and preferably below 50 atmospheres. The treatment with reducing gas may be carried out in the liquid or vapour phase, and may be such as to cause cracking or destructive hydrogenation; temperatures of 290-550 DEG C. are specified. Catalysts, especially those immune from poisoning by sulphur, are preferably present. Specified catalysts are the metals or oxides, hydroxides, sulphides, or other compounds of, tungsten, molybdenum, chromium, uranium, tin, vanadium, rhenium, manganese, zinc, cadmium, aluminium, and cobalt. Hydrogen sulphide may be present in the gases to prevent deterioration of the catalyst. The removed aromatics may be destructively hydrogenated to produce an antiknock gasolene, or may be converted into hydro-aromatics. Solvents specified are liquid sulphur dioxide, aniline, dimethyl sulphate and furfural. The treatment therewith may be continuous in countercurrent. Initial substances treated include:--benzines, kerosenes, lubricating oils, mineral oils, tars obtained from coals, shales, tar sands, or other bituminous materials, e.g. by coking, low-temperature carbonization, or extraction with solvents, and the cracking, hydrogenation, distillation, or extraction products of the above. In one example, a kerosene distillate containing 23,4 per cent of aromatics is thrice treated with an equal volume of liquid sulphur dioxide at -8 DEG C.; a raffinate containing 7 per cent of aromatics is obtained. 200 gm. of this raffinate is mixed with a catalyst prepared by adsorbing 5 gm. of molybdic acid as to 20 gm. of active carbon, and the mixture is heated in an autoclave, under an initial hydrogen pressure of 30 atoms., for 36 min. to about 400 DEG C. and for 15 min. at this temperature. 100 gm. of refined kerosene containing 3,1 per cent of aromatics, little sulphur, and no unsaturates is obtained. The sulphur-dioxide extract is destructively hydrogenated to an antiknock gasolene. Other examples describe the treatment of gas oil and of lubricating oil. Specifications 218,989, 268,774, [both in Class 91, Oils &c.], and 348,834 are referred to.