GB469573A - A process for treating hydrocarbons or derivatives thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

Hydrocarbon derivatives are freed from acid-reacting organic substances by extraction with a quaternary ammonium base and separation of the resulting liquid layers. Hydrocarbon derivatives specified are: chlorethane, ethylene dichloride, trichlorethylene, carbon tetrachloride, chlorpropane, chlorbutylene, chlorbenzene, brombenzene, nitroethane, nitrobenzene, amylamines, aniline, pyridine, and petroleum bases. The quaternary ammonium base may contain alkyl, unsaturated alkyl, aryl, or aralkyl groups with or without substituents such as OH, NH2, NO2, halogen, or heterocyclic groups. Specified bases are trimethyl tolyl ammonium hydroxide and trimethyl benzyl ammonium hydroxide. These are dissolved in water or other solvent such as liquid ammonia, lower alcohols (ethyl, methyl, or propyl alcohol, glycol, glycerol, chlor hydrin), amino alcohols, alcohol-ethers (ethylene glycol mono ethyl ether), acetone, or ethylene diamine. Alkali hydroxides such as ammonia or calcium hydroxide may be added.ALSO:Hydrocarbons or derivatives thereof are freed from acid-reacting organic substances by extraction with a quaternary ammonium base and separating the resulting liquid layers. Petroleum, benzene, toluene, xylene, chlorethane, ethylene dichloride, trichlorethylene, carbon tetrachloride, chlor-propane, chlor-butylene, chlorbenzene, brom-benzene, nitroethane, nitrobenzene, amylamines, aniline, pyridine, or petroleum bases may be treated. The quaternary ammonium bases may contain alkyl, unsaturated alkyl, aryl, or aralkyl groups with or without polar groups such as OH, NH2, NO2, halogen or heterocyclic groups substituted therein, which lower the solvent power but increase the solubility of the base in water. Branched aliphatic, olefinic or aromatic groups increase the solvent power. Examples: trimethyl tolyl ammonium hydroxide, or trimethyl benzyl ammonium hydroxide. Petroleum is freed from mercaptans, phenols, naphthenic acids, and fatty acids by the process. The quaternary ammonium base is dissolved in water or other solvent such as liquid ammonia, lower alcohols, (ethyl, propyl, or methyl alcohol, p glycol, glycerol), chlorhydrin, amino alcohols, alcohol-ethers (ethylene glycol mono-ethyl ether), acetone, or ethylene diamine. Alkali hydroxides may be added, e.g. ammonia, calcium hydroxide. The quaternary ammonium base may be recovered by steam distillation, electrolytic oxidation, treatment with oxygen in the presence of copper oxide or salts, or by treating with mineral acids, distillation, and extraction with methyl alcohol, depending on the acid substances removed. If the initial material contains hydrogen sulphide, hydroxy or carboxy acids, a pre-treatment with alkali hydroxide, or tri-potassium phosphate may be used.