GB437864A - Process of manufacturing refined hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon mixtures - Google Patents

Abstract

In the refining of hydrocarbons, e.g. motor benzol or cracked benzine without loss of desirable unsaturateds, by contacting the hydrocarbon vapour and steam with a sulphonic acid of a hydrocarbon or of a halogen substituted hydrocarbon which has not more than 10 carbon atoms in the molecule, is free from sulphuric acid, and is suspended or dissolved in an inert organic medium liquid at the working temperature, the concentration of the sulphonic acid in the organic medium is at most 10 per cent, and the temperature is sufficiently high to prevent substantial hydration of the sulphonic acid. Refining by other methods, e.g. with lye, acid, or adsorbents may precede and/or follow. Sulphonic acids specified are those of benzene, b -naphthalene, toluene, xylene, and p-chlorbenzene and methionic acid. Organic media suitable are Edeleanu extract, gas oil, lubricating oil, and distillation residues of pressure-distillates. The apparatus should be made of or lined with stainless steel, enamel, or earthenware to prevent the formation of oxides. In an example, pressure distillate is fractionally distilled with steam, and the mixture of benzine vapour with about 10 per cent of steam passed at 200 DEG C. through a series of columns, filled with Raschig rings, in countercurrent with a 2 per cent solution of benzene-sulphonic acid in lubricating oil, fresh sulphonic acid being added between the columns. Washing with sodium carbonate or hydrate follows.