US1847409A - Process for treating petroleum oils - Google Patents

Description

fractions.

Patented Mar. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE J'AOQ'U'E C. MORRELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR'TO UNIVERSAL OIL PRODUCTS I COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA rnocnss FOR TREATING rnr nonnom: OILS No Drawing. Application filed April 27, 1923, Serial No. 635,12 3. Renewed March 15,- 1928.

This invention relates to improvements in a process for treating petroleum oil and refers more particularly to the increase of low boiling point hydrocarbons in cracked distillates. The invention further has to do with a process in which the hydrocarbon oil during treatment is subjected to a refining action simultaneously with the conversion of the oils into relatively low boiling point products.

The process is carried out by treating the oil in any suitable type of cracking unit, either a shell or tube still provided with an expansion zone in which the heated oil is permitted to cool and vaporize. During treatment the oil is subjected to a conversion temperature and a vapor pressure regulated to maintain upon the oil a pressure relative to the temperature in order to effect the most desirable cracking conditions. These conditions will vary within a considerable range, as the difierent oils require different conditions of temperature and pressure to produce the most complete conversion.

The invention resides in having present during the conversion of the oil permanganates, particularly the permanganates of potassium and sodium. These re-agents are preferably introduced into the still and the distillation carried on while they are in intimate contact with the oil undergoingtreatment. It has been found, particularly with the conversion of such oils as kerosene and cracked distillate when distilled in the presence of such re-agents, that there is produced an increased amount of low boiling point This increase is somewhat augmented by the introduction of an oxidizing gas such as air, oxygen, or ozone. The manganese compound remaining in the still may be recovered by suitable methods and the substance again re-used with further distillations.

The oxidizing reaction should be carried out to the extent of refining the oil particularly to remove objectionable sulphur compounds and improve the product by the presence of oxygen-containing compounds. Oxidation to the extent of approximately 5% will serve for. refining purposes, whereas upward of 5%, say up to 25%, may be dges rable'v I for producing oxygen derivatives.

In this connection it has beenfoundthat the use of such re-agent to the amount of ten per cent will increase the low boiling point hydrocarbons produced from five to ten per cent. These figures, however, are relative and may be varied without departing from the scope of the invention. In certain cases it may be desirable to increase ordecrease this percentage of permanganate present during the treatment of the oil to produce the best results. The substance acts partial ly as a catalyst and seems also to have a:

particularly desirable chemical action. Al'- though there is an increased amount of low boiling point products, there is also a decidedly advantageous effect of the presence of this re-agent in that the resultant products are of a more refined nature, being of a relatively sweet odor and substantially devoid of objectionable coloring matter.

Reference is made to the fact that this conversion or treatment of the oil takes placeunder pressure. It has been found under certain conditions and in connection with certain oils that the treatment is as satisfactory under atmospheric pressure as when a superatmospheric pressure is imposed. The preferable temperature range, however, has been found to be from approximately 700 F. to 925 F. while preferential pressures range from 50 pounds per square inch to 300 pounds per square inch.

I claim as my invention:

1. A process of converting substantial percentages of relatively high boiling point oils into lower boiling point oils and in simultaneously refining said lower boiling point oils, consisting in heating and vaporizing oil at a conversion temperature in the presence of permanganates not in excess of 10% by weight of the oil treated, of a metallic substance, in introducing during the reaction period an oxidizing gas, in condensing and collectin the evolved vapors and in maintaining a regulated vapor pressure upon the oil undergoing treatment.

2. A process for producing low boiling oil 1y refining the former which comprises cracking the higher boiling oil by subjection to cracking conditions of temperature and pressure in the presence of a metallic perman- 5 ganate not in excess of by weight of the oil treated and recoverin the low boiling hydrocarbons thereby profiuced.

3. A process for producing low boiling oil from higher boiling oil and for simultaneously refining the former which comprises distilling the higher boiling oil in the presence of a metallic permanganate not in excess of 10% by weight of the oil treated at a temperature and under a superatmospheric pressure adequate to effect substantial cracking and condensing the resultant vapors.

4. A process for producin low boiling oil from higher boiling oil am? for simultaneouslv refining the former which comprises cracking the higher boiling oil by subjection to cracking conditions of temperature and pressure in the presence of a metallic permanganate not in excess of 10% by weight of the oil treated and an oxidizing gas, and

recovering the low boiling hydrocarbons thereby produced. I

5. A process for producing low boiling oil from higher boiling oil and for simultaneously refining the former which comprises N 80 distilling the higher boiling oil in the presence of a metallic permanganate not in excess of 10% by weight of the oil treated and an oxidizing gas at a temperature and under a supe'ratmospheric pressure adequate to effect substantial cracking and condensing the resultant vapors. o

JACQUE C. MORRELL'