Patent GB-854602-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to the isomerization of paraffinic hydrocarbons
IPC: C07C5/27
Filed: 1958-04-08
Abstract: Saturated hydrocarbons are irradiated with high energy ionising radiation in the presence of 2-200 wt % of said hydrocarbons of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst at 40-300 DEG F. until at least 1 X 10-6 KWH/lb of energy has been absorbed whereby isomerisation to form branched or more highly branched chain hydrocarbons and other reactions take place.  The material to be irradiated is a saturated hydrocarbon as such or a mixture of hydrocarbons containing at least 45% wt of saturated hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons specified are the normal C4-C8 hydrocarbons and mixtures containing them e.g. straight run naphthas and gaseous mixtures of natural or industrial origin, to which may be added benzene to function as a diluent or to influence the proportions of the products or a cycloparaffin such as methyl cyclopentane, cyclohexane, methyl cyclohexane, ethyl cyclopentane, 1 : 1 dimethylcyclopentane and 1 : 2 dimethylcyclopentane; white oil may also be used as a diluent. Radiations specified are gamma rays, X-rays, electrons, beta rays, alpha particles, neutrons; sources may be natural and artificial radioactive materials e.g. Co-60.  The reaction may be performed in the liquid or gas phase: in liquid phase operation, the catalyst (e.g. aluminium chloride or bromide) may be first added to the reactants as a slurry or the reactants may be passed through a bed of alumina-supported aluminium chloride under pressure.  If desired the catalyst may be produced in situ e.g. by reaction of aluminium with chlorine in the presence of mercury, mercury salts, water, a hydrogen halide or ethylene to assist catalyst formation.  The reactant in the presence of the catalyst is then exposed to radiation e.g. by passage through or around atomic waste products, a Co-60 source or an electron beam. Thereafter the products may be separated by distillation, absorption or adsorption on a molecular sieve, unchanged reactants (e.g. remaining adsorbed in a molecular sieve) being recovered and recycled for further treatment.  Products from n-hexane may comprise gaseous hydrocarbons (unspecified) and various C4-C8 paraffins of increased branching characteristics, and some cycloparaffins.ALSO:Saturated hydrocarbons are irradiated with high energy ionising radiation in the presence of 2-200% wt. of said hydrocarbons of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst at 40-300 DEG F. until at least 1 X 10-6 KWH/lb. of energy has been absorbed whereby isomerisation to form branched or more highly branched chain hydrocarbons and other reactions take place.  The material to be irradiated is a saturated hydrocarbon as such or a mixture of hydrocarbons containing at least 45% by weight of saturated hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons specified are the normal C4-C8 hydrocarbons and mixtures containing them e.g. straight run naphthas and gaseous mixtures of natural or industrial origin, to which may be added benzene to function as a diluent or to influence the proportions of the products or a cycloparaffin such as methyl cyclopentane, cyclohexane, methyl cyclohexane, ethyl cyclopentane, 1:1-dimethylcyclopentane and 1:2-dimethylcyclopentane; white oil may also be used as a diluent.  Radiations specified are gamma rays, X-rays, electrons, beta rays, alpha particles, neutrons; sources may be natural and artificial radioactive materials, e.g. Co-60.  The reaction may be performed in the liquid or gas phase: in liquid phase operation, the catalyst (e.g. aluminium chloride or bromide) may be first added to the reactants as a slurry or the reactants may be passed through a bed of alumina-supported aluminium chloride under pressure.  If desired the catalyst may be produced in situ e.g. by reaction of aluminium with chlorine in the presence of mercury, mercury salts, water, a hydrogen halide or ethylene to assist catalyst formation.  The reactant in the presence of the catalyst is then exposed to radiation, e.g. by passage through or around atomic waste products, a Co-60 source or an electron beam. Thereafter the products may be separated by distillation, absorption or adsorption on a molecular seive, unchanged reactants (e.g. remaining adsorbed in a molecular sieve) being recovered and recycled for further treatment.  Products may comprise gaseous hydrocarbons (unspecified) and various C4-C8 paraffins including cycloparaffins of increased branching characteristics.