Patent GB-808315-A (GB)
Title: Integrated hydration and alkylation of gaseous olefins
IPC: C07C2/62
Filed: 1955-09-29
Abstract: Light hydrocarbons are converted into gasoline-range components by introducing a mixture containing 30-100 mols. per cent of an olefin having 3-4 carbon atoms per molecule, and 70-0 mols. per cent of a paraffin having 3-4 carbon atoms per molecule, and water into a hydration zone containing a hydration catalyst so as to convert a part of the olefin to oxygenated hydrocarbons boiling between 50 DEG and 220 DEG  C., separating the unconverted olefin and mixing it with an isoparaffin of 4-5 carbon atoms per molecule, and passing the mixture to an alkylation zone containing an alkylating catalyst so as to convert the unconverted olefin into an alkylate of which at least 90 per cent boils between 50 DEG  and 220 DEG  C. and separating the alkylate into low-boiling products and a gasoline-range alkylate. The initial feed may be a refinery stream containing 30-100 mol. per cent of a C3 or C4 olefin together with minor amounts of ethylene and higher olefins, and hydrogen, methane, ethane, propane, butane, nitrogen and carbon dioxide.  It is preferably first purified to remove sulphur compounds by washing with diethanolamine.  The hydration catalyst may contain 40 per cent of phosphoric acid baked into a solid support such as kieselguhr, clay, silica gel, alumina, titania, charcoal, coke or activated carbon, or adipic or maleic acid, adsorbent silica-alumina gels, silver sulphate, copper sulphate, copper phosphate, copper pyrophosphate or tungsten pentoxide.  The hydration vessel may be a heat-exchanger type of vessel consisting of catalyst-filled tubes jacketed by condensate and steam for removing the heat of reaction.  Pressures of 500-5000 pounds per square inch and temperatures of 120-300 DEG  C. may be used.  After drying, a typical oxygenated product consists of 85 per cent isopropyl alcohol, 5 per cent diisopropyl ether, and 2 per cent acetone.  This product may be incorporated with virgin naphthas, tetraethyl lead, lauryl p-aminophenol, 4 methyl-2,6-di tertiary butyl alcohol, tricresyl phosphate or chloropropyl thionophosphate.  The alkylation step may be catalysed by sulphuric acid of 88-98 per cent strength, boron trifluoride, hydrogen fluoride or aluminium chloride. The final product may be varied to provide a summer or winter grade gasoline having a Reid vapour pressure of 7.5 to 13.0 p.s.i.g.ALSO:Light hydrocarbons are converted into gasoline-range components by introducing a mixture containing 30-100 mols. per cent of an olefin having 3-4 carbon atoms per molecule, and 70-0 mols. per cent of a paraffin having 3-4 carbon atoms per molecule, and water into a hydration zone containing a hydration catalyst so as to convert a part of the olefin to oxygenated hydrocarbons boiling between 50 and 220 DEG  C., separating the unconverted olefin and mixing it with an isoparaffin of 4-5 carbon atoms per molecule, and passing the mixture to an alkylation zone containing an alkylating catalyst so as to convert the unconverted olefin into an alkylate of which at least 90 per cent boils between 50 and 220 DEG  C. and separating the alkylate into low-boiling products and a gasoline range alkylate.  The initial feed may be a refinery stream containing 30-100 mol. per cent of a C3 or C4 olefin together with minor amounts of ethylene and higher olefins, and hydrogen, methane, ethane, propane, butane, nitrogen and carbon dioxide.  It is preferably first purified to remove sulphur compounds by washing with diethanolamine. The hydration catalyst may contain 40 per cent of phosphoric acid baked into a solid support such as kieselguhr, clay, silica gel, alumina, titania, charcoal, coke or activated carbon, or adipic or maleic acid, adsorbent silica-alumina gels, silver sulphate, copper sulphate, copper phosphate, copper pyrophosphate or tungsten pentoxide. The hydration vessel may be a heat-exchanger type of vessel consisting of catalyst-filled tubes jacketed by condensate and steam for removing the heat of reaction.  Pressures of 500-5000 pounds per sq. inch and temperatures of 120-300 DEG  C. may be used. After drying, a typical oxygenated product consists of 85 per cent isopropyl alcohol, 5 per cent diisopropyl ether, and 2 per cent acetone.  This product may be incorporated with virgin naphthas, tetraethyl lead, lauryl p-aminophenol, 4-methyl-2,6-ditertiary butyl alcohol, tricresyl phosphate or chloropropyl thionophosphate.  The alkylation step may be catalysed by sulphuric acid of 88-98 per cent strength, boron trifluoride, hydrogen fluoride or aluminium chloride. The final product may be varied to provide a summer or winter grade gasolene having a Reid vapour pressure of 7.5 to 13.0 p.s.i.g.