GB766625A - Process for the hydrogenation of hydrocarbons - Google Patents

Abstract

Hydrocarbons which are liquid or solid at room temperature are catalytically hydrogenated at elevated temperatures and pressures in the gas or liquid phase in the presence of a gas containing hydrogen such as coal gas, coke-oven gas or low-temperature carbonization gas, the hydrogen containing gas being passed through a catalyst having a hydrogenating action and at a temperature between 50 DEG and 400 DEG C. before introduction into the hydrogenation step. The catalysts are preferably oxides or sulphides of metals of the 6th and 8th groups of the periodic system such as tungsten, molybdenum, cobalt, chromium, nickel and iron, and of vanadium; and they may be supported on activated charcoal, silica gel or alumina. The hydrocarbons may be crude benzol, crude motor spirit, medium oil, having a boiling point up to 400 DEG C. Operating temperatures may be between 50 DEG and 240 DEG C., hydrogenation being effected at a pressure of 10-100 atmospheres. In a preferred embodiment, the catalyst consists of a mixture of 17 per cent molybdic acid, 8 per cent cobalt hydroxide and 3 per cent graphite, the remainder being alumina.