Patent GB-468283-A (GB)
Title: Synthetic hydrocarbon oils and process of producing same
IPC: C07C2/22
Filed: 1935-12-30
Abstract: Hydrocarbon oils of high viscosity index are produced by contacting a liquefied hydrocarbon material of less than 6, and in major part of 4 carbon atoms per molecule, containing normal and iso olefines and corresponding saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons, with a halide polymerizing catalyst, at a temperature of 0--120 DEG  F., separating the sludge comprising catalyst and associated reaction product from the liquid polymers and unpolymerized hydrocarbons, and then separating the polymers from unpolymerized hydrocarbons.  The initial material may be petroleum cracking gas fractions containing butenes and butane with lesser amounts of ethylene, propylene, pentenes, and associated paraffins.  Sulphur compounds are removed as by treatment with sodium hydroxide or plumbite solutions, and all traces of water removed as with CaCl2.  Polymerization is preferably effected at 0--80 DEG  F. with aluminium chloride, the temperature being, e.g. about 80 DEG  F. if the olefine concentration is high and, e.g. 30--40 DEG  F. if the concentration is low or the ratio of normal to iso olefines is high.  The liquefied hydrocarbons may flow down a chamber packed with the catalyst, the reaction products passing to a settling chamber, which may be packed with rock or other inert mineral substance on which the sludge coalesces.  The polymer-containing liquid may then be passed through an adsorbent such as clay or charcoal to remove all entrained sludge and colouring bodies.  Low boiling hydrocarbons such as butane are then separated from the polymers as by a flash distillation, the latter being fractionated if desired or hydrogenated, e.g. at 200--450 DEG  F. and 60--500 lb. pressure with a nickel catalyst.  The polymers and the saturated products derived therefrom are employed, e.g. as gear and motor oil, either alone or mixed with other oils, and as machinery lubricants.  Fractions of gasoline and kerosene boiling range contained therein can be added to motor fuel or used as solvents or thinners and, after hydrogenation, are used alone or with other hydrocarbons as motor fuels of high non-detonating value or as components of coating compositions or cleaning fluids.  An example is given of the treatment of a petroleum cracking gas fraction which is liquefied, purified from sulphur and water, and passed, together with recycled hydrocarbons, largely butane, flashed off from the polymers produced, or with part of the butane-polymer product, down a tower packed with aluminium chloride.  The liquid is cooled prior to entry to about 0 DEG  F. and the product leaves at about 80--100 DEG  F. After removal of sludge as described above, the clear hydrocarbon liquid is treated in a flash chamber, e.g. by steam heating, to remove light hydrocarbons, and then fractionated, first at atmospheric pressure to separate a gasoline and kerosene boiling range fraction, and then at reduced pressure to separate polymers of different viscosities or volatilities. Specifications 141,753, [Class 91], and 358,068 are referred to.  The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 is not limited to the use of hydrocarbon material consisting in major part of 4 carbon atoms per molecule, and refers to the polymerization of propylene or pentenes.  This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.ALSO:Hydrocarbon oils of high viscosity index are produced by contacting a liquefied hydrocarbon material of less than 6 and in major part of 4 carbon atoms per molecule, containing normal and iso olefines, and corresponding saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons, with a halide polymerizing catalyst, at a temperature of 0--120 DEG  F., separating the sludge comprising catalyst and associated reaction product from the liquid polymers and unpolymerized hydrocarbons, and then separating the polymers from unpolymerized hydrocarbons.  The initial material may be petroleum cracking fractions containing butenes and butane with lesser amounts of ethylene, propylene, pentenes, and associated paraffins.  Sulphur compounds are removed as by treatment with sodium hydroxide or plumbite solutions, and all traces of water removed as with CaCl2.  Polymerization is preferably effected at 0 DEG --80 DEG  F. with aluminium chloride.  The liquefied hydrocarbons may flow down a chamber packed with the catalyst, the reaction products passing to a settling chamber, which may be packed with rock or other inert mineral substance on which the sludge coalesces.  The polymer-containing liquid may then be passed through an adsorbent such as clay or charcoal to remove all entrained sludge and colouring bodies.  Low boiling hydrocarbons such as butane are then separated from the polymers as by a flash distillation, the latter being fractionated if desired or hydrogenated, e.g. at 200--450 DEG  F. and 60--500 lb. pressure with a nickel catalyst. The polymers and the saturated products derived therefrom are employed, e.g. as gear and motor oil, either alone or mixed with other oils, and as machinery lubricants.  Fractions of gasoline and kerosene boiling range contained therein can be added to motor fuel or used as solvents or thinners and, after hydrogenation, are used alone or with other hydrocarbons as motor fuels of high non-detonating value or as components of coating compositions or cleaning fluids.  Specifications 141,753, [Class 91], and 358,068 are referred to.  The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 is not limited to the use of hydrocarbon material consisting in major part of 4 carbon atoms per molecule, and refers to the polymerization of propylene or pentenes.  This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.