GB528611A - A process for refining hydrocarbon mixtures in the vapour phase - Google Patents

Abstract

528,611. Refining hydrocarbons. NAAMLOOZE VENNOOTSCHAP DE BATAAFSCHE PETROLEUM MAATSCHAPPIJ. May 10, 1939, No. 13985. Convention date, May 18, 1938. [Class 91] Gasoline, fuel oil and other distillates are refined by dispersing in the hydrocarbon vapours a 25 per cent or weaker solution of one or more organic sulphonic acids, mixed or not with sulphuric acid, in a chemically inert solvent which is volatile under the reaction conditions, the acid being in such quantity as to be completely or almost completely consumed. The treatment may be countercurrent but is preferably in parallel ; suitable temperatures are 90-210‹C., usually the time of contact is 3-90 sec., the concentration of the solution 0.5-10 per cent. and the amount of acid 0.057- 11.4 gms. per litre of gasoline ; dispersion may be effected by spraying the solution into the vapours or by filming the solution over packing in a treatment tower ; the pressure may be atmospheric, reduced, or raised ; there may be a series of reaction zones in which the conditions may be similar or different e.g. the temperatures may fall progressively and the concentrations of the solutions used rise, and/or the flow may be in parallel in one or more zones, countercurrent in the others ; steam may be introduced; treatment with lye and/or acid may precede the process ; and treatment with silver nitrate or " doctor " may follow it. Acids specified are mono- and poly-sulphonic acids of benzene, toluene, xylene, naphthalene, methane, ethane, and propane, substituted or not e.g. by halogen, amino, or hydroxy groups ; and oil-soluble sulphonic acids obtained by treating viscous mineral oil with fuming sulphuric acid. Solvents suitable are water, pentane, hexane, and non- cracked gasoline. In one example, cracked gasoline is washed with dilute soda and sulphuric acid, and then treated in parallel in the vapour phase at 137‹C. with 30 per cent. by vol. of a 2 per cent. aqueous solution of benzene-sulphonic acid or 3 per cent. by vol. of an 8.3 per cent. solution. The proportion of acid required to remove the undesirable constituents, principally diolefines, may be determined from the maleic anhydride value. Specification 437,864 is referred to.