GB517374A - Process for the catalytic destructive hydrogenation of heavy oils or residues containing asphalt - Google Patents

Abstract

517,374. Destructive-hydrogenation. ARMSTRONG, J. J. V. (Naamlooze Vennootschap Internationale Hydronge Neeringsoctrooien Maatschappij). June 20, 1938, No. 18213, [Class 32] Middle oils suitable for use as diesel oils are obtained from heavy oils and residues containing asphalts by treating the oils with hydrogen at temperatures between 450‹ and 550 ‹C. in the presence of catalysts, the activity of which lies below that of catalysts of standard hydrogenating activity (as defined in Specification 477,944) with a throughput adjusted above 0.5 kg. of initial materials per litre of reaction space per hour and under a hydrogen pressure adjusted within a range above 250 atmos. according to results obtained by preliminary experiments so that the asphalts (determined by the propane method) are reduced to a content of less than 6 per cent. and 30 to 70 per cent. of liquid products boiling up to 350‹C. (calculated on the final product) are newly formed. The pressures are preferably regulated in accordance with the propane-asphalt content so that for 8 per cent. asphalt the pressure is about 320 atmos and for 15, 33, 50, and 60 per cent. about 360, 450, 550 and 600 atmos respectively, and also in accordance with the quantity of residue obtained by distillation of the initial material up to 325‹C. under a pressure of 20mms. of mercury, e.g., pressures of the range set forth above are used with vacuum residues of 10, 15, 25, 35, and 40 per' cent. respectively. Where the pressures indicated differ in each case a value obtained from the average of the two pressures in question is used for the preliminary experiment. Catalysts having an activity below the standard hydrogenating activity are brown coal, small coke, active carbon, iron oxide, bleaching earth, silica gel, diatomaceous earth, magnesia and may be used with small quantities of oxides of other compounds of the metals of the 5th and 6th groups or with sulphates, e.g., nickel or iron sulphate. The reaction temperature should be maintained below that at which substantial dehydrogenation takes place by selecting temperatures so that the specific gravity of the fraction boiling above 325‹C. in the final products is not higher than the corresponding fraction in the initial material. In treating a cracking residue of an asphalt base oil containing 42 per cent. by volume of propane-asphalt and 6 per cent. of constituents boiling up to 325‹C. and which yields, when distilled up to 325‹C. under 20mm. pressure, 49 per cent. residue, in presence of a catalyst comprising 1 per cent. brown coal, small coke impregnated with iron sulphate the following comparative conditions and results of two experiments are given:- In experiment 2, double the quantity of catalyst was required.