Patent GB-864225-A (GB)
Title: Hydrocarbon radiochemistry
IPC: C10G15/10
Filed: 1957-06-21
Abstract: Hydrocarbons are irradiated in gas or liquid phase with high energy ionising radiations in the presence of activated carbon whereby such reactions as cracking and isomerisation take place. Suitable feedstocks are petroleum oils e.g. a predominantly paraffinic distillate of B.P. 150-950 DEG F., naphthas (to increase octane number) and waxes (to make high viscosity lubes), shale oils, tar sand oils, asphalts, synthetic oils, natural and artificial hydrocarbon gases.  In the examples, cetane is treated. The reactions may be performed on the liquid hydrocarbon with a suspended activated carbon, or with a gaseous reactant and a fixed, fluidised or gravitating bed of carbon.  Preferred temperatures are from 200-900 DEG F.  After use, the carbon may be regenerated within or outside the reactor e.g. by burning, acid treating, steaming, treating with CO2 or reworking.  The radiation may be obtained from particle accelerators, nuclear waste products or artificially produced elements such as Co60 or, preferably, by using a nuclear reactor.  An average gamma ray flux greater than 105 Roentgens/hr. and, where also present, an average neutron flux greater than 1010 neutrons/sq. cm./sec are preferred.  Suitable carbon may be prepared by calcination of cellulosic material, from chemical coke, fluid coke or coal.  The pores of the carbon may be enlarged by reacting with steam, oxygen, carbon dioxide or sulphur.  The carbon preferably has a surface area above 50 sq. m./gm., a pore volume of 0,2 c.c./gm., a bulk density greater than 25 lbs./cu. ft., an attrition rate loss less than 6%/hr. and a mesh size (U.S.S.) of 4-100 for fixed bed operation, 50-325 for slurry operation or a size of 20-80 microns for fluidised operation.  The methods of determining the above characteristics are specified.  Up to 10% of catalytic components may be carried by the carbon e.g. platinum, nickel, cobalt, copper and metallic molybdates, oxides, tungstates, chromates, phosphates and sulphides.  The carbon may also be impregnated with materials such as B10 or Li6, in elementary form or as compounds and as pure isotopes or naturally occurring mixtures, which emit alpha particles on neutron capture. These isotopes may alternatively be present dissolved in the oil as boron triethyl, triphenyl boron, phenyl lithium or the lithium salt of high molecular weight phenols. Specification 802,552 is referred to, and the subject-matter of Specification 853,950 is disclaimed.ALSO:Hydrocarbon oils may be irradiated in gas or liquid phase with high energy ionising radiations in the presence of activated carbon whereby isomerisation takes place.  Suitable feedstocks are petroleum oils, naphthas (to increase octave number), shale oils, tars and oils and synthetic oils.  The irradiation may be performed with the oil in liquid form using a suspended activated carbon, or with the oil in gaseous form using a fixed, fluidised or gravitating bed of carbon.  The radiation may be obtained from particle accelerators, nuclear waste products, artificially produced elements such as cobalt 60, or preferably, by using a nuclear reactor.  The pores of the carbon may be enlarged by reacting with steam, oxygen, carbon dioxide or sulphur.  Up to 10% of catalytic compounds may be carried by the carbon, e.g. platinum, nickel, cobalt, copper, or metallic molybdates, oxides, tungstates, chromates, phosphates or sulphides.  The carbon may also be impregnated with materials such as boron 10 to lithium 6 in elementary form or as compounds, and as pure isotopes or naturally occuring mixtures which omit alpha particles on neutron capture. These isotopes may alternatively be present dissolved in the oil in the form of boron triethyl, triphenyl boron, phenyl lithium or the lithium salt of high molecular weight phenols. After use, the carbon may be regenerated within or outside the reactor.  The subject-matter of Specification 853,950 is disclaimed.  Specification 802,552 also is referred to.