With Preliminary Treatment Of Feed Or Plural Separation Procedures Patents (Class 585/264)
  • Patent number: 6855853
    Abstract: A process for the production of low benzene content gasoline is disclosed wherein a full boiling range naphtha is fractionated to produce a light naphtha, a medium naphtha and a heavy naphtha. The benzene is contained in the medium naphtha and this stream is subjected to hydrogenation to convert the benzene to cyclohexane which may be isomerized to improve the octane. The valuable olefins are removed in the light naphtha and the valuable heavier aromatics (toluene and xylenes) are removed in the heavy naphtha. In a preferred embodiment all of the reactions are carried out in distillation column reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventors: Willibrord A. Groten, Kerry L. Rock
  • Patent number: 6835301
    Abstract: A process for hydroprocessing a hydrotreated liquid distillate stream to produce a stream exceptionally low in sulfur as well as aromatics. A hydrotreated distillate stream is further hydrotreated in a co-current reaction zone wherein the reaction product is passed to a separation drum wherein a vapor product is collected overhead and a liquid product is passed to a aromatics saturation zone countercurrent to the flow of hydrogen treat gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Edward S. Ellis, Henry Jung, William E. Lewis
  • Patent number: 6830678
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process of producing gasoline with a low sulphur content from a feedstock containing sulphur. This process comprises at least one step a1 of selectively hydrogenating the diolefins and acetylenic compounds, at least one separation of the gasoline (step b) obtained at step a1 into at least three fractions, at least one step c1 of treating the heavy gasoline separated at step b on a catalyst enabling the unsaturated sulphur compounds to be at least partially decomposed or hydrogenated and at least one step d to remove the sulphur and nitrogen from at least one intermediate fraction, followed by catalytic reforming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Institut Francais DuPetrole
    Inventors: Blaise Didillon, Denis Uzio, Quentin Debuisschert, Jean-Luc Nocca
  • Patent number: 6824676
    Abstract: A process for concurrently fractionating and treating a full range naphtha stream. The full boiling range naphtha stream is first subjected to simultaneous thioetherification and splitting into a light boiling range naphtha, an intermediate boiling range naphtha and a heavy boiling range naphtha. The intermediate boiling range naphtha containing thiophene and thiophene boiling range mercaptans is passed on to a polishing hydrodesulfurization reactor where a low sulfur, low olefin gas oil is concurrently fed to the polishing reactor to insure that a liquid phase is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventors: Gary G. Podrebarac, Willibrord A. Groten, Lawrence A. Smith, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6781023
    Abstract: Bromine reactive hydrocarbon contaminants are removed from aromatic streams by first providing an aromatic feedstream having a negligible diene level. The feedstream is contacted with an acid active catalyst composition under conditions sufficient to remove mono-olefins. An aromatic stream may be pretreated to remove dienes by contacting the stream with clay, hydrogenation or hydrotreating catalyst under conditions sufficient to substantially remove dienes but not mono-olefins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen H. Brown, Terry E. Helton, Arthur P. Werner
  • Patent number: 6740787
    Abstract: A process for treatment of a batch with four carbon atoms that contains diene compounds and a minor portion of acetylene compounds is described. A portion of the fluid that circulates in a distillation zone that is enriched with acetylene compounds is drawn off laterally, preferably in the drainage zone, and a selective hydrogenation stage is carried out in a hydrogenation zone that is outside the distillation zone. The hydrogenation effluent that is produced is recycled in the rectification zone. A C4 fraction that comprises butadiene and that is low in acetylene compounds is recovered at the top, and a C5 fraction that is enriched with oligomers is recovered at the bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Mathieu Pinault, Vincent Coupard, Christophe Boyer
  • Patent number: 6632414
    Abstract: Three-phase chemical hydrogenation reactions involving the processing of gas-liquid reactant feed streams over “mini-structured” solid catalyst beds formed e.g., of channeled honeycomb monoliths incorporating solid catalysts achieve reaction efficiencies suitable for effective integral reactor operation by utilizing low superficial liquid linear velocities and high feedstream gas:liquid ratios; single-pass conversion efficiencies in excess of 50%, typically 80-100%, are achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Wei Liu
  • Patent number: 6620982
    Abstract: A process for producing cyclopentane from by-product streams containing cyclopentene consists of distilling the cyclopentene from the feedstream and then hydrotreating the cyclopentene-containing fraction to cyclopentane. A second distillation step may then be employed to remove the hydrocarbons which are lighter than cyclopentane. The process has particular applicability in the treatment of feedstreams containing neo-hexane. The cyclopentene is easily separated from the neo-hexane in a conventional fractionator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventor: Richard B. Halsey
  • Patent number: 6495030
    Abstract: A process for concurrently fractionating and hydrotreating of a full range naphtha stream. The full boiling range naphtha stream is first subjected to simultaneous thioetherification and fractionation to remove the mercaptans the light fraction and then to simultaneous hydrodesulfurization and splitting of the remainder into an intermediate boiling range naphtha and a heavy boiling range naphtha. The three boiling range naphthas are treated separately according to the amount of sulfur in each cut and the end use of each fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventor: Gary G. Podrebarac
  • Patent number: 6486369
    Abstract: A process for selective hydrogenation of a C2 and C3 olefinic feed stream containing acetylenic and diolefinic impurities whereby the acetylenes and diolefins impurities are selectively hydrogenated concurrently in a vapor phase process without first separating the C2 and C3 olefinic gases into separate feed stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Sud-Chemie Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Voight, Steven A. Blankenship
  • Patent number: 6468399
    Abstract: Cyclopentane and/or cyclopentene and, if desired, isopentane can be obtained by distillative separation from a pre-benzene fraction or a C5 fraction which has in each case being partially hydrogenated to remove acetylene compounds and diolefins, wherein a) in a first fractional distillation, low boilers are removed as first top product and, either b1) the first bottom product is fed to a second fractional distillation and there cyclopentene is taken off as second top product and cyclopentane and higher-boiling hydrocarbons are taken off as second bottom product and this second bottom product is separated into cyclopentene and higher boilers in a third fractional distillation, or b2) the first bottom product is subjected to a catalytic hydrogenation and subsequently, in a fractional distillation, separated into cyclopentane as top product and higher boilers as bottom product, or b3) the first bottom product is subjected to a fractional distillation to separate off the relatively high boilers as bottom prod
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: BP Koln GmbH
    Inventors: Arnd Stüwe, Rolf Dieter Wurtz, Michael Müller, Jens Herwig, Christian Gabel, Joachim Grub
  • Patent number: 6451198
    Abstract: A process for transforming a gas oil cut into a dearomatized fuel with a high cetane number comprises at least one first, deep desulphurization and deep denitrogenation step in which the gas oil cut and hydrogen are passed over a catalyst comprising a mineral support, at least one group VIB metal or metal compound, at least one group VIII metal or metal compound, and phosphorous or at least one phosphorous compound, and at least one subsequent second step, dearomatization, in which the desulphurized and denitrogenated product from the first step is passed with hydrogen over a catalyst comprising a mineral support and at least one group VIII noble metal or noble metal compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Frédéric Morel, Henri Delhomme, Nathalie George-Marchal
  • Patent number: 6444118
    Abstract: A process for concurrently fractionating and treating of a full range naphtha stream. The full boiling range naphtha stream is first subjected to simultaneous thioetherification or selective hydrogenation and splitting into a light boiling range naphtha, an intermediate boiling range naphtha and a heavy boiling range naphtha. The intermediate boiling range naphtha containing thiophene and thiophene boiling range mercaptans, dienes or mixtures may be subjected to a second thioetherification or selective hydrogenation, depending on its make-up, and then passed on to a polishing hydrodesulfurization reactor or the entire intermediate stream may be passed directly to the polishing reactor. The bottoms are subjected to concurrent hydrodesulfurization and fractional distillation and the combined overheads and bottoms are fed to the polishing reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventors: Gary G. Podrebarac, Gary R. Gildert
  • Patent number: 6414205
    Abstract: A process for the selective hydrogenation of the methyl acetylene and propadiene (MAPD) in a propylene rich stream is disclosed wherein the selective hydrogenation is carried out stepwise (a) first in a single pass fixed bed reactor and then (b) in a distillation column reactor containing a supported PdO hydrogenation catalyst which serves as a component of a distillation structure. Conversion and selectivity to propylene in improved over the use of the single pass fixed bed reactor alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventors: Stephen J. Stanley, Gary R. Gildert
  • Patent number: 6410811
    Abstract: The process of the invention is a process for selective hydrogenation of a hydrocarbon feed containing hydrogen and C2+ hydrocarbons, characterized in that it comprises at least one step for separating a fraction of the hydrogen contained in the feed by means of a membrane (step a)) and a step for selective hydrogenation of the effluent from step a) in a reactive column (step b)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Michel Chau, Michel Derrien, Alain Methivier
  • Patent number: 6376735
    Abstract: A process for the rejection of heavy reaction by-products from a selective hydrogenation reaction zone effluent containing butadiene and trace amounts of heavy reaction by-products by introducing the selective hydrogenation reaction zone effluent into a butadiene extraction vaporizer containing a fractionation zone, refluxing the fractionation zone with a raffinate stream from a butadiene extraction zone; removing a vaporized stream containing butadiene and having a reduced concentration of heavy reaction by-products from the vaporizer; removing and recovering a concentrated liquid product stream containing heavy reaction by-products from the vaporizer; and introducing the vaporized stream containing butadiene into the butadiene extraction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Steven P. Lankton
  • Patent number: 6365791
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for converting hydrocarbons in which said feed is treated in a distillation zone associated with a reaction zone, the feed for the reaction zone being drawn off at the height of at least one draw-off level, the effluent from the reaction zone being re-introduced into the distillation zone at the height of a re-introduction level, said process being characterized in that a liquid effluent is also withdrawn from the distillation zone at the height of a withdrawal level, said liquid effluent being treated in a gas-liquid side separation zone (splitter), the gaseous effluent being re-introduced into the distillation zone and the liquid effluent being recovered as an intermediate cut. This process can be used to reduce the benzene content of a hydrocarbon cut and to recover a naphtha cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Ambrosino, Jean-Charles Viltard, Blaise Didillon
  • Patent number: 6316646
    Abstract: A process for the continuous catalytic conversion of organic compounds, that, together with unwanted attendant materials, form a starting substance: first the organic compounds of the starting material are purposely extracted by means of condensed fluids. Then the extract, containing the condensed fluids and organic compounds as the reaction mixture is contacted with a catalyst for the catalytic conversion of the organic compounds to form a product mixture, which contains the individual products of the catalytic conversion. The product mixture is separated from the reaction mixture and the fluids employed are, optionally, conducted back for extraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Degussa AG
    Inventors: Thomas Tacke, Stefan Röder, Inge Beul, Steffen Laporte, Peter Panster
  • Publication number: 20010013485
    Abstract: A process for transforming a gas oil cut into a dearomatised fuel with a high cetane number comprises at least one first, deep desulphurisation and deep denitrogenation step in which the gas oil cut and hydrogen are passed over a catalyst comprising a mineral support, at least one group VIB metal or metal compound, at least one group VIII metal or metal compound, and phosphorous or at least one phosphorous compound, and at least one subsequent second step, dearomatisation, in which the desulphurised and denitrogenated product from the first step is passed with hydrogen over a catalyst comprising a mineral support and at least one group VIII noble metal or noble metal compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Applicant: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Frederic Morel, Henri Delhomme, Nathalie George-Marchal
  • Publication number: 20010013484
    Abstract: A process for reducing content of sulphur compounds and polyaromatic hydrocarbons in a hydrocarbon feed having a boiling range between 200° C. and 600° C., which process comprises in combination contacting the feed and hydrogen over a hydrotreating catalyst and hydrotreating feed at hydrotreating conditions, cooling the hydrotreated effluent and hydrogen-rich gas from the hydrotreating reactor contacting said effluent and hydrogen gas over a hydrotreating catalyst in a post-pretreatment reactor at a temperature sufficient to lower the polyaromatic hydrocarbon content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Applicant: Haldor Topsoe A/S
    Inventors: Per Zeuthen, Barry H. Cooper
  • Patent number: 6264799
    Abstract: Cyclopentane and/or cyclopentene and, if desired, isopentane can be obtained by distillative separation from a pre-benzene fraction or a C5 fraction which has in each case being partially hydrogenated to remove acetylene compounds and diolefins, wherein a) in a first fractional distillation, low boilers are removed as first top product and, either b1) the first bottom product is fed to a second fractional distillation and there cyclopentene is taken off as second top product and cyclopentane and higher-boiling hydrocarbons are taken off as second bottom product and this second bottom product is separated into cyclopentene and higher boilers in a third fractional distillation, or b2) the first bottom product is subjected to a catalytic hydrogenation and subsequently, in a fractional distillation, separated into cyclopentane as top product and higher boilers as bottom product, or b3) the first bottom product is subjected to a fractional distillation to separate off the relatively high boilers as bottom prod
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: EC Erdolchemie GmbH
    Inventors: Arnd Stüwe, Rolf Dieter Wurtz, Michael Müller, Jens Herwig, Christian Gabel, Joachim Grub
  • Patent number: 6261442
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for converting a hydrocarbon feed in which said feed is treated in a distillation zone producing an overhead vapour distillate and a bottom effluent, associated with an at least partially external reaction zone comprising at least one catalytic bed, in which at least one reaction for converting at least a portion of at least one hydrocarbon is carried out in the presence of a catalyst and a gas stream comprising hydrogen, the feed for the reaction zone being drawn off at the height of at least one draw-off level and representing at least a portion of the liquid flowing in the distillation zone, at least part of the effluent from the reaction zone being re-introduced into the distillation zone at the height of at least one re-introduction level, so as to ensure continuity of the distillation, said process being characterized in that a liquid distillate is withdrawn from the distillation zone at the height of at least one withdrawal level, said level being located below the vapo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Ambrosino, Blaise Didillon, Pierre Marache, Jean-Charles Viltard, Gérald Witte
  • Patent number: 6221239
    Abstract: A process for transforming a gas oil cut into a dearomatised fuel with a high cetane number comprises at least one first, deep desulphurisation and deep denitrogenation step in which the gas oil cut and hydrogen are passed over a catalyst comprising a mineral support, at least one group VIB metal or metal compound, at least one group VIII metal or metal compound, and phosphorous or at least one phosphorous compound, and at least one subsequent second step, dearomatisation, in which the desulphurised and denitrogenated product from the first step is passed with hydrogen over a catalyst comprising a mineral support and at least one group VIII noble metal or noble metal compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Frédéric Morel, Henri Delhomme, Nathalie George-Marchal
  • Patent number: 6217749
    Abstract: A process for hydrotreating a hydrocarbon feedstock (1) involving the use of at least one hydrotreatment, particularly hydrodesulfurization, reactor (2) and a fractionation unit (3), which latter contains two distinct injection zones (4, 5) for the hydrocarbon feedstocks, a common zone (8) of vaporization of the light fractions and two distinct draw-off lines (6, 7) for the liquid bottoms; the hydrocarbon feedstock (1) being subjected to a preliminary treatment either in a first hydrodesulfurization reactor (20) the operating conditions of which (P, T, LHSV) may be different from those of the hydrotreatment reactor (2), or in a sweetening apparatus or else in a sulfur trap, the hydrocarbon feedstock being then injected into the first injection zone (4) of the fractionation unit (3), the liquid bottoms being removed through the draw-off line (6) of the injection zone (4) and passed into a hydrotreatment reactor (2), the effluents from said reactor (2) being injected into a second injection zone (5) of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Total Raffinage Distribution S.A.
    Inventors: Marcellin Espeillac, Pierre Crespin
  • Patent number: 6210561
    Abstract: An integrated process for converting a hydrocarbon feedstock having components boiling above about 100° C. into steam cracked products is described. The process first involves passing the feedstock to a hydrotreating zone to effect substantially complete decomposition of organic sulfur and/or nitrogen compounds. The product from the hydrotreating zone is passed to an aromatics saturation zone. The product is then passed to a steam cracking zone. Hydrogen and C1-C4 hydrocarbons, steam cracked naphtha, steam cracked gas oils and steam cracked tar are recovered. The amount of steam cracked tar produced is reduced by at least about 30 percent, and the amount of steam cracked tar produced is reduced by at least about 40 percent, basis the starting hydrocarbon feedstock which has not been subject to hydrotreating and aromatics saturation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Exxon Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Carl W. Bradow, Dane C. Grenoble, Richard M. Foley, Brendan D. Murray, Bruce H. C. Winquist, Stanley N. Milam
  • Patent number: 6194626
    Abstract: A cyclic process for the purification of a diolefin hydrocarbon stream produced in a naphtha steam cracker to produce a high quality diolefin hydrocarbon stream having extremely low levels of acetylene over an extended period because of the ability to readily cyclically regenerate catalyst contained in an off-line selective hydrogenation reaction zone. The spent or partially spent catalyst is contacted with a stream containing naphtha and hydrogen to restore at least a portion of the fresh catalyst activity by the extraction of polymer compounds therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Bipin V. Vora, Paul R. Cottrell
  • Patent number: 6156946
    Abstract: The present invention is a process for transforming aromatic organic compounds and resource materials. The process includes the steps of contacting an organic material selected from the group consisting of single and/or multi-ring aromatic compounds and alkylaromatic compounds, and their heteroatom-containing analogues, crude oil, petroleum, petrochemical streams, coals, shales, coal liquids, shale oils, heavy oils and bitumens with a microorganism or enzymes in order to hydroxylate the organic material, followed by contacting the hydroxylated organic resource material so as to cause hydrogenation and/or hydrogenolysis on the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Catherine L. Coyle, Michael Siskin, David T. Ferrughelli, Michael S. P. Logan, Gerben Zylstra
  • Patent number: 6156933
    Abstract: Process for the selective hydrogenation of alphatic or aromatic substrates under supercritical or near critical conditions. Hydrogenation is effected using a heterogeneous catalyst in a continuous flow reactor containing a supercritical or near critical reaction medium and selectively of product formation is achieved by varying one or more of the temperature, pressure, catalyst and flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignees: Degussa-Huls AG, Thomas Swan & Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Martyn Poliakoff, Thomas M. Swan, Thomas Tacke, Martin G. Hitzler, Stephen K. Ross, Stefan Wieland
  • Patent number: 6153804
    Abstract: A process for producing cyclopentane and cyclopentene by fractional distillation of partly hydrogenated pyrolysis gasoline, in which(a) partly hydrogenated pyrolysis gasoline is fractionally distilled in a first distillation column,(b) a C.sub.5 hydrocarbon mixture containing at least 40% of cyclopentane and cyclopentene is taken off from the distillation column as a sidestream at a suitable tray, and(c) the C.sub.5 hydrocarbon mixture is further fractionally distilled into cyclopentane and cyclopentene in a second distillation column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ulrich Kanne, Jurgen Heners, Thomas Krug
  • Patent number: 6124514
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for generating pure aromatic compounds from a reformed gasoline which contains aromatic compounds, olefins, diolefin, and triolefins, which comprises the steps of:(a) selectively hydrogenating the olefins, diolefins and triolefins in the reformed gasoline to obtain a mixture of hydrogenated, non-aromatic compounds and aromatic compounds; and(b) separating the aromatic compounds from the hydrogenated, non-aromatic compounds in the mixture formed during step (a) by either extractive distillation, liquid--liquid extraction or both to obtain the pure aromatic compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Krupp Uhde GmbH
    Inventors: Gerd Emmrich, Hans-Christoph Schneider, Helmut Gehrke, Bernhard Firnhaber
  • Patent number: 6118034
    Abstract: In the process for the selective hydrogenation of dienes in diene-containing feed streams, a diene-containing feed stream is hydrogenated over a nickel-containing precipitated catalyst at from 40 to 100.degree. C., a pressure of from 3 to 20 bar and a WHSV (weight hourly space velocity) of from 1 to 10 kg/(l.times.h) in the presence of free hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Maximilian Vicari, Marc Walter, Ekkehard Schwab, Hans-Joachim Muller, Germain Kons, Stephan Dilling, Peter Polanek
  • Patent number: 6107533
    Abstract: Process flow sequences for the reduction of equipment fouling in the fractional distillation of light end hydrocarbon components, such as those produced by pyrolysis or steam cracking, wherein conventional multiple hydrogenation unit configurations are replaced with upstream hydrogenation unit configurations. The upstream hydrogenation units of the invention are located at either side draws or in the reboiler circuit of deethanizers, in front-end demethanizer and front-end deethanizer sequences, or depropanizers, in front-end depropanizer sequences and obviate the need for most of the conventionally used hydrogenation units downstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Exxon Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Rimas Virgilijus Vebeliunas, David Alan Bamford, Neil James Drummond, Sheri Renee Snider, Robert David Strack, Roy Thomas Halle
  • Patent number: 6072091
    Abstract: A process for the treatment of a feed comprising at least hydrocarbons containing at least 3 to 10 carbon atoms per molecule, including acetylenic and diolefinic hydrocarbons, comprises passing the feed into a distillation zone associated with a selective hydrogenation reaction zone comprising at least one catalytic hydrogenation bed which is internal to or external of the distillation zone, in which hydrogenation of at least a portion of the acetylenic and diolefinic hydrocarbons contained in the feed is carried out in the presence of a gas stream rich in hydrogen. The process is particularly suitable for the treatment of products from catalytic cracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Jean Cosyns, Blaise Didillon, Jean-Luc Nocca, Etienne Lebas, Francoise Montecot
  • Patent number: 6042716
    Abstract: A process for transforming a gas oil cut into a dearomatized fuel with a high cetane number comprises at least one first, deep desulphurization and deep denitrogenation step in which the gas oil cut and hydrogen are passed over a catalyst comprising a mineral support, at least one group VIB metal or metal compound, at least one group VIII metal or metal compound, and phosphorous or at least one phosphorous compound, and at least one subsequent second step, dearomatization, in which the desulphurized and denitrogenated product from the first step is passed with hydrogen over a catalyst comprising a mineral support and at least one group VIII noble metal or noble metal compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Frederic Morel, Henri Delhomme, Nathalie George-Marchal
  • Patent number: 6040489
    Abstract: A process for separating 1,3-butadiene from a crude C.sub.4 stream containing butanes, butenes, butadienes and acetylenes has been developed. The process begins with introducing hydrogen, a solvent, and the crude C.sub.4 stream to a catalytic extractive distillation unit having a reaction zone containing a catalyst capable of hydrogenating acetylenes. Butanes and butenes, being less soluble in the solvent, are distilled in an overhead stream from the catalytic extractive distillation unit. Butadienes and acetylenes, being more soluble in the solvent, are carried with the solvent to the reaction zone located within the catalytic extractive distillation unit. In the reaction zone the acetylenes are converted to hydrogenation products. The hydrogenation products other than butadiene are separated from the butadienes by the extractive distillation occurring in the unit. The solvent and butadiene mixture is removed from the catalytic extractive distillation unit in a distillate stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Tamotsu Imai
  • Patent number: 6015933
    Abstract: A process to remove polymeric by-products from the product of an acetylene selective hydrogenation reactor has been developed. The product is generated by introducing hydrogen and a liquid hydrocarbon stream containing largely butadiene and some acetylenes to a reactor containing a catalyst effective for the selective hydrogenation of acetylenes. The product contains at least hydrogen, butadiene, and polymeric by-products. The pressure of the product is reduced and the product cooled. The cooled product is conducted to a low pressure flash drum to produce a hydrogen enriched stream and a butadiene and polymeric by-product-enriched stream. The hydrogen-enriched stream is removed. The butadiene and polymeric by-product is passed to a knockout drum to produce a stream enriched in butadiene and polymeric by-products having less than about 12 carbon atoms and a stream enriched in polymeric by-products having about 12 or more carbon atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Hayim Abrevaya, Bipin V. Vora
  • Patent number: 6002058
    Abstract: A process for the alkylation of benzene contained in a mixed refinery stream is disclosed wherein the refinery stream is first subjected to hydrogenation of higher olefins prior to alkylation of the benzene with selected types and quantities of lower olefins. Streams containing sulfur compounds may be pretreated by hydrodesulfurization. All of the process steps are advantageously carried out in distillation column reactors to take advantage of that mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventors: Dennis Hearn, Robert P. Arganbright, Lawrence A. Smith, Jr., John R. Adams
  • Patent number: 5939596
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process and system for the removal of butadiene from a cracked gas stream prior to entering a front end hydrogenation reactor in an olefin production facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Engineering Corp.
    Inventor: Mark Whitney
  • Patent number: 5925799
    Abstract: In an olefins plant for the production and recovery of ethylene and propylene, the hydrogenation of the C.sub.2 acetylenes, the C.sub.3 acetylenes and dienes and the C.sub.4 and heavier acetylenes, dienes and olefins and the selective separation of the resulting products is carried out by the use of various arrangements of one or more reaction distillation columns. These columns contain a hydrogenation catalyst in enriching and stripping sections and concurrently perform a catalytic hydrogenation reaction and a distillation function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: ABB Lummus Global Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Stanley, Charles Sumner
  • Patent number: 5905178
    Abstract: A process for the removal of .alpha.-methyl styrene from admixtures with cumene by hydrogenation in a catalytic distillation hydrogenation to selectively hydrogenate the side chains and produce cumene is disclosed. The crude cumene may be the byproduct of the cumene oxidation to produce phenol. The crude cumene also contains acetone, benzene, ethyl benzene and high and low boiling carbonyls, which are either removed simultaneously with the hydrogenation/distillation or removed first followed by the selective catalytic distillation hydrogenation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventor: James M. Hildreth
  • Patent number: 5817227
    Abstract: The invention is concerned with a process for treating a charge of which the major part is constituted by hydrocarbons comprising at least 5 carbon atoms per molecule and comprising at least one unsaturated compound comprising at the most six carbon atoms per molecule including benzene, such that said charge is treated in a distillation zone, comprising a drainage zone and a stripping zone, associated with a hydrogenation reaction zone, comprising at least one catalytic bed, in which hydrogenation is carried out of at least part of the unsaturated compounds comprising at the most six carbon atoms per molecule and contained in the charge, the charge of said reaction zone being removed at the height of a removal level and representing at least a part of the liquid flowing in the distillation zone, the effluent of the reaction zone being at least partly reintroduced into the distillation zone, in such a way as to ensure the continuity of the distillation operation and in such a way as to remove from the top of t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Paul Mikitenko, Christine Travers, Jean Cosyns, Charles Cameron, Jean-Luc Nocca, Fran.cedilla.oise Montecot
  • Patent number: 5807477
    Abstract: A process for treating a light cracked naphtha to be used as an etherification or alkylation feedstock in which the mercaptans and diolefins reacted in a single pass fixed bed reactor and are removed in a distillation column reactor which hydrogenate the unreacted diolefins. The mercaptans are reacted with the diolefins to form sulfides which are higher boiling than that portion of the naphtha which is used as feed to the etherification or alkylation unit. The higher boiling sulfides are removed as bottoms along with any C.sub.6 and heavier materials. Any diolefins not converted to sulfides are selectively hydrogenated to mono-olefins for use in the etherification process. Certain C.sub.5 olefins, for example pentene-1 and 3-methyl butene-1 are isomerized during the process to more beneficial isomers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventors: Dennis Hearn, Gary R. Gildert
  • Patent number: 5763715
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process and system for the removal of butadiene from a cracked gas stream prior to entering a front end hydrogenation reactor in an olefin production facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Engineering Corp.
    Inventor: Mark Whitney
  • Patent number: 5741414
    Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing gas oil containing low-sulfur and low-aromatic-compound content, said method including a first step of putting distilled petroleum to contact with hydrogen gas in the presence of a hydrotreating catalyst to reduce the sulfur concentration to not higher than 0.05 wt % and a second step of reducing the aromatic compound concentration in the presence of a noble metal type catalyst, with at least a pair of high temperature high pressure gas liquid separators arranged between the two steps to separate the gaseous and liquid components of distilled petroleum and hydrogen gas or hydrogen containing gas is introduced into the liquid component in each of the separators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Nippon Oil Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Waku, Masanari Akiyama
  • Patent number: 5738779
    Abstract: In a hydrotreating process a two phase flow splitter is used in combination with parallel heat exchanger trains for heat transfer stability. Flow maldistribution of liquid and vapor between heat exchanger trains is thereby avoided without more complex feedback control. The two phase flow splitter is inherently phase volume ratio stable. Prior methods of flow splitting were only phase volume ratio metastable. Improved heat recovery at lower equipment cost is thereby achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Markel Dach, Rich Walter Barkley, Jon Andrew Branson, James Raymond Stoy, James Lindsey Gilbert Schrodt
  • Patent number: 5679241
    Abstract: The C.sub.2 to C.sub.5 and heavier acetylenes and dienes in a thermally cracked feed stream are hydrogenated without significantly hydrogenating the C.sub.2 and C.sub.3 olefins. Additionally, the C.sub.4 and heavier olefins may be hydrogenated. Specifically, the cracked gas feed in an olefin plant is hydrogenated in a distillation reaction column containing a hydrogenation catalyst without the necessity of separating the hydrogen out of the feed and without any significant hydrogenation of the ethylene and propylene. A combined reaction-fractionation step known as catalytic distillation hydrogenation is used to simultaneously carry out the reactions and separations while maintaining the hydrogenation conditions such that the ethylene and propylene remain substantially un-hydrogenated and essentially all of the other C.sub.2 and heavier unsaturated hydrocarbons are hydrogenated. Any unreacted hydrogen can be separated by a membrane and then reacted with separated C.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignees: ABB Lummus Global Inc., Chemical Research & Licensing Company
    Inventors: Stephen J. Stanley, Francis D. McCarthy, Charles Sumner, Gary Robert Gildert
  • Patent number: 5595634
    Abstract: A process for treating C.sub.3 to C.sub.12 petroleum fractions, such as a light cracked naphtha to be used as an etherification feed stock in which H.sub.2 S is removed by distillation of at least the C.sub.3 fraction and mercaptans and diolefins are removed simultaneously in a distillation column reactor using a dual catalyst bed. The mercaptans and H.sub.2 S are reacted with the diolefins in the presence of a reduced nickel catalyst to form sulfides which are higher boiling than the portion of the feed which is fractionated to an upper hydrogenation catalyst bed of palladium for hydrogenating diolefins and acetylenes. The higher boiling sulfides are removed as bottoms along with heavier materials. Any diolefins not converted to sulfides and acetylenes are selectively hydrogenated to mono-olefins in the presence of a palladium oxide catalyst in an upper bed, producing overheads, substantially free of sulfur compounds, diolefins and acetylenes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Chemical Research & Licensing Company
    Inventors: Dennis Hearn, Gary R. Gildert, Hugh M. Putman
  • Patent number: 5453177
    Abstract: An integrated three-column process for recovering hydrocarbon distillate products from a hydroprocessing or hydrocracking reactor effluent stream and a hydrocarbon distillate product recovery train are disclosed. According to the present recovery process, an effluent stream from the cracking reactor is cooled and separated into light and heavy phase streams. The heavy phase stream is depressurized and stripped of light end components in a steam stripping column. The light phase stream is further cooled to separate a liquid stream which is combined with the light ends from the stripper and fed to a debutanizer. A C.sub.4 -rich light end stream taken overhead from the debutanizer is condensed to produce LPG product stream(s). A C.sub.4 -lean heavy end stream removed from the bottoms of the debutanizer is combined with a heavy end bottoms stream from the stripper and fed to a fractionator for fractionation into product distillate streams such as light and heavy naphtha, jet fuel, diesel oil, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: The M. W. Kellogg Company
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Goebel, Michael G. Hunter
  • Patent number: 5414170
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved process for selectively hydrogenating acetylenes in an olefin plant process stream by selectively hydrogenating the acetylenes downstream of a front end depropanizer and upstream of further separation zones such as a demethanizer and/or de-ethanizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Richard H. McCue, Edna B. Hicks
  • Patent number: 5406011
    Abstract: An improved process for the catalytic dehydrogenation of paraffinic hydrocarbons is disclosed. Feed paraffinic hydrocarbons are dehydrogenated by means of contacting the dehydrogenatable hydrocarbon with a dehydrogenation catalyst in a first dehydrogenation zone wherein the endothermic dehydrogenation reaction reduces the temperature of the resulting hydrocarbon stream containing dehydrogenated hydrocarbon compounds. The resulting effluent from the first dehydrogenation zone is then contacted with a stream of gas comprising normally gaseous hydrocarbon compounds having a temperature greater than the hydrocarbon stream to increase the temperature of the hydrocarbon stream and then introducing the resulting heated stream into a second dehydrogenation zone to produce additional dehydrogenated hydrocarbon compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: William H. Radcliffe, Thomas R. Fritsch, Bipin V. Vora