Patent GB-826657-A (GB)
Title: Regeneration of adsorbent material
IPC: C07C9/16
Filed: 1956-10-31
Abstract: Adsorbent material contaminated with sulphur compounds is regenerated by treatment with water to desorb the sulphur compounds and drying the adsorbent with an inert gas.  The adsorbent may particularly be an alumina such as activated alumina or an inorganic silicate such as aluminium or magnesium silicate or mixtures thereof which has been used to remove sulphur compounds from sulphuric acid treated hydrocarbons such as gasoline, naphtha, kerosene, gas oil or lubricating oil. Particularly preferred is a bauxite which has been dried to a water content of less than 10%.  In the regeneration the treating zone is drained of liquid and the alumina washed with water at 40-210 DEG  F. for 15 minutes to 20 hours, and this is preferably effected in a series of steps of gradually increasing temperature, the first step being at a low temperature to avoid undue temperature rises which may occur on wetting alumina with water and may be at 40-100 DEG  F. for 15 minutes to 10 hours, a second step being at 100-210 DEG  F. for 15 minutes to 10 hours. Alternatively, the temperature may be raised gradually or abruptly in each step or if a single step is used.  The alumina is then preferably steam treated at 220-500 DEG  F. for 0.5 to 15 hours to remove water and any remaining sulphur compounds and is finally dried with flue gas, nitrogen, natural gas or hydrocarbons containing no more than 2 carbon atoms at 200-1000 DEG  F. for 1 to 30 hours.  The adsorbent may be optionally cooled by continuing the passage of inert gas at a lower temperature, e.g. that at which the hydrocarbon is treated, i.e. 35-120 DEG  F., for 0.5 to 10 hours.ALSO:Adsorbent material contaminated with sulphur compounds is regenerated by treatment with water to desorb the sulphur compounds and drying the adsorbent with an inert gas.  The adsorbent may particularly be an alumina such as activated alumina or an inorganic silicate such as aluminium or magnesium silicate or mixtures thereof which has been used to remove sulphur compounds from hydrocarbons by the process of Specification 826,656.  Particularly preferred is a bauxite which has been dried to a water content of less than 10%.  In the regeneration the treating zone is drained of liquid and the alumina washed with water at 40-210 DEG F. for 15 minutes to 20 hours, and this is preferably effected in a series of steps of gradually increasing temperature, the first step being at a low temperature to avoid undue temperature rises which may occur on wetting alumina with water and may be at 40-100 DEG F. for 15 minutes to 10 hours, a second step being at 100-210 DEG  F. for 15 minutes to 10 hours. Alternatively, the temperature may be raised gradually or abruptly in each step or if a single step is used.  The alumina is then preferably steam treated at 220-500 DEG  F. for 0.5 to 15 hours to remove water and any remaining sulphur compounds and is finally dried with flue gas, nitrogen, natural gas or hydrocarbons containing no more than 2 carbon atoms at 200-1000 DEG  F. for 1 to 30 hours. The adsorbent may be optionally cooled by continuing the passage of inert gas at a lower temperature, e.g. that at which the hydrocarbon is treated, i.e. 35-120 DEG  F., for 0.5 to 10 hours.