Patent ID: 8022108

Claim:
A method of removing contamination from a Fischer-Tropsch derived waxy paraffinic product stream containing Al contamination that is not filterable to 0.1 microns and comprising aluminum metal present in a complex organic matrix, the method comprising: a) conducting a Fischer-Tropsch process in a slurry type reactor using a catalyst comprising cobalt at a temperature range of about 400 to 550° F. to produce a Fischer-Tropsch derived waxy paraffinic product stream containing Al contamination that is not filterable to 0.1 microns and comprising aluminum metal present in a complex organic matrix; b) passing the Fischer-Tropsch derived waxy paraffinic product stream to a treatment zone; c) passing an aqueous acidic stream to the treatment zone; d) contacting the Fischer-Tropsch derived waxy paraffinic product stream with the aqueous acidic stream in the treatment zone to form a mixed stream containing the Al contamination in particulate form; e) separating the mixed stream into at least one acidic extracted Fischer-Tropsch derived waxy paraffinic product stream, and at least one modified aqueous acidic stream; f) passing the at least one acidic extracted Fischer-Tropsch derived waxy paraffinic product stream to a hydroprocessing reactor containing catalyst beds; and g) hydroprocessing the acidic extracted Fischer-Tropsch derived waxy paraffinic product stream to provide a hydroprocessed product stream, wherein the contacting step substantially reduces plugging of catalyst beds in the hydroprocessing reactor.