Patent GB-587048-A (GB)
Title: Improved process for the destructive hydrogenation of petroleum hydrocarbons
IPC: C10G47/00
Filed: 1944-10-24
Abstract: <PICT:0587048/III/1> Isobutane and isopentane are produced by treating petroleum hydrocarbons in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst with hydrogen at an elevated temperature and at a pressure not less than 700 lbs. per square inch.  The products are fractionated whereby isobutane and isopentane are obtained as separate fractions; there is also obtained a residual fraction and some or all of this is recycled to the hydrogenation zone.  Naphtha or gas oil from tank 1 is preheated in zone 5 to a temperature between 500 DEG  and 600 DEG F. and then mixed with preheated hydrogenating gases in line 10.  The mixture is passed to reactor 12 maintained at a temperature between 600 DEG  and 800 DEG F. and a pressure between 1,000 and 5,000lbs. per square inch, and which contains a catalyst comprising metallic nickel deposited on acidactivated clay.  The products of hldrogenation are passed through cooler 18 into separator 21 from which light gases containing hydrogen, methane, ethane and propane are removed through line 22, mixed with fresh hydrogen from tank 28, and used to hydrogenate fresh feed.  The liquid products from separator 21 are fractionated in column 40 from which a side stream, containing hydrocarbons having four carbon atoms, is removed through line 46 and collected in receiver 48; this fraction is then rectified to obtain isobutane. The bottoms from column 40 are re-fractionated in column 52 from which an overhead product, containing hydrocarbons having five carbon atoms, is withdrawn through line 53 and further fractionated to obtain isoentane.  The bottoms from column 52 are passed to a third column 58 which effects a separation between hydrocarbons boiling below 160 DEG  F. and those boiling above; the latter are removed from the base of the column and recycled through lines 64 and 62 for further hydrogenation.  The catalyst was prepared by activating clay with hydrofluoric acid solution, washing with water, impregnating with nickel nitrate, heating and reducing with hydrogen.ALSO:<PICT:0587048/IV/1> Isobutane and isopentane are produced by either from corresponding compounds containtreating petroleum hydrocarbons in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst with hydrogen at an elevated temperature and at a pressure not less than 700 lbs. per square inch.  The products are fractionated whereby isobutane and isopentane are obtained as separate fractions; there is also obtained a residual fraction and some or all of this is recycled to the hydrogenation zone.  Naphtha or gas oil from tank 1 is preheated in zone 5 to a temperature between 500 DEG  and 600 DEG  F. and then mixed with preheated hydrogenating gases in line 10.  The mixture is passed to reactor 12 maintained at a temperature between 600 DEG  and 800 DEG  F. and a pressure between 1000 and 5000 lbs. per square inch, and which contains a catalyst comprising metallic nickel deposited on acid-activated clay.  The products of hydrogenation are passed through cooler 18 into separator 21 from which light gases containing hydrogen, methane, ethane and propane are removed through line 22, mixed with fresh hydrogen from tank 28, and used to hydrogenate fresh feed.  The liquid products from separator 21 are fractionated in column 40 from which a side stream, containing 4 C. hydrocarbons, is removed through line 46 and collected in receiver 48; this fraction is then rectified to obtain isobutane.  The bottoms from column 40 are re-fractionated in column 52 from which an overhead product, containing 5 C. hydrocarbons, is withdrawn through line 53 and further fractionated to obtain isopentane.  The bottoms from column 52 are passed to a third column 58 which effects a separation between hydrocarbons boiling below 160 DEG  F. and those boiling above; the latter are removed from the base of the column and recycled through lines 64 and 62 for further hydrogenation.  The catalyst was prepared by activating clay with hydrofluoric acid solution, washing with water, impregnating with nickel nitrate, heating and reducing with hydrogen.