With Preliminary Treatment Of Feed Patents (Class 208/211)
  • Publication number: 20090139901
    Abstract: The invention concerns a fixed bed process for capturing arsenic and for desulphurizing a hydrocarbon fraction comprising olefins, sulphur and arsenic, said process comprising a step a) for bringing a capture mass into contact with said hydrocarbon fraction in the presence of hydrogen, the ratio between the flow rate of hydrogen and the flow rate of the hydrocarbon fraction being in the range 50 to 800 Nm3/m3, the operating temperature being in the range 200° C. to 400° C., the operating pressure being in the range 0.2 to 5 MPa. The capture mass comprises molybdenum in a sulphurized form, nickel in a sulphurized form and at least one porous support selected from the group constituted by aluminas, silica, silica-aluminas, titanium oxide and magnesium oxide. The nickel content is in the range 10% to 28% by weight and the molybdenum content is in the range 0.3% to 2.1% by weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventors: Florent Picard, Vincent Coupard, Elodie Devers
  • Publication number: 20090134059
    Abstract: A process for production of sweet heavy crude oil is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of: removing contaminants from heavy oil, bitumen or bitumen froth to form a substantially dewatered deasphalted oil; and subsequent desulfurization of the substantially dewatered deasphalted oil using sodium metal desulfurization to produce a sweet heavy crude oil. The step of removing contaminants is conducted using extraction with a paraffinic solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Ronald D. Myers, Jame A. Dunn
  • Publication number: 20090101545
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process for producing gasoline with a low sulphur content and a controlled olefins content, comprising a step for oligomerizing an olefinic feed (step i), a step ii) consisting of mixing the branched olefinic gasoline produced in step i) with a gasoline rich in sulphur and olefins, a step iii) for hydrodesulphurization of said mixture, and separating the H2S formed (step iv)).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Florent Picard, Quentin Debuisschert, Annick Pucci
  • Patent number: 7504022
    Abstract: A process for desulphurizing a gasoline cut containing olefins, sulphur-containing compounds and optionally molecules belonging to C3 and C4 cuts comprises at least a first step A for contacting said gasoline cut with an acidic resin having an acid capacity of more than 4.7 equivalents per kg and a specific surface area of less than 55 m2/g, and a second step B for fractionation of the mixture from the first step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventor: Florent Picard
  • Publication number: 20090065397
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for removing sulfur hydrocarbon compounds from naphtha stream as well as a method and an apparatus for simultaneously removing sulfur hydrocarbon compounds from two streams is shown and described. The method includes providing a separator vessel having a top, a bottom, a primary feed inlet in a co-feed inlet disposed vertically above the primary feed inlet. The separator vessel further includes a catalyst bed disposed between the co-feed inlet and the top. The top includes a vapor outlet and bottom includes a bottoms outlet The method includes delivering a primary feed stream comprising sulfur hydrocarbon compounds through the effluent inlet and delivering a vaporized co-feed stream that also comprises sulfur hydrocarbon compounds through the co-feed inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Richard K. Hoehn, David A. Lindsay, Giles R. Maddox
  • Patent number: 7501549
    Abstract: An integrated process for the isolation of benzene contained within a fluid catalytically cracked naphtha is disclosed wherein a C6 fraction containing a benzene concentrate is subjected to etherification with alcohol (e.g. methanol and/or ethanol) to convert the C6 isoolefins to ethers which are separated by fractional distillation. If desired the ethers may be dissociated to the isoolefins and alcohol. The remaining material in the benzene concentrate may then be treated to remove olefins and organic sulfur compounds so that the benzene may be removed by solvent extraction. Alternatively the benzene in the remaining material may be subjected to hydrogenation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventors: Gary G. Podrebarac, Richard Foley
  • Publication number: 20090035622
    Abstract: The present invention includes systems and methods of treating a hydrocarbon fuel to reduce organic sulfur components so as to be amenable to small-scale and/or field-based applications. Embodiments of the invention involve the performance of a vapor-phase hydrodesulfurization operation using steam reformate. The steam reformate is a hydrogen source for the hydrodesulfurization and is provided by an integrated steam reformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: David L. King, Xiwen Huang, Feng Zheng, Victoria S. Stenkamp, Ward E. Tegrotenhuis, Dale A. King, Greg A. Whyatt
  • Patent number: 7473351
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for reducing the nitrogen content of a liquid hydrocarbon feed wherein said process comprises a) contacting a liquid hydrocarbon feed comprising an alkylating agent and organic nitrogen species with an acidic catalyst at elevated temperature in a first reaction zone to generate a liquid hydrocarbon feed comprising a reduced alkylating agent content and organic nitrogen species of higher boiling point. b) fractionating the liquid hydrocarbon feed comprising a reduced alkylating agent content and organic nitrogen species of higher boiling point to remove the organic nitrogen species of higher boiling point to generate a liquid hydrocarbon feed comprising a reduced alkylating agent content and a reduced nitrogen content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventors: Ptoshia Avon Burnett, Michael Graham Hodges, Thomas Knox
  • Patent number: 7449102
    Abstract: A process for the production of low sulfur diesel and a residual hydrocarbon stream containing a reduced concentration of sulfur. A residual hydrocarbon feedstock and a heavy distillate hydrocarbon feedstock are used in the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Tom N. Kalnes
  • Patent number: 7435334
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of a gasoline with a low sulfur content starting from an initial gasoline that comprises olefins, thiophene compounds and mercaptans and comprises a stage for treating at least one fraction of the initial gasoline under conditions of alkylation of the thiophene compounds by the olefins, a stage for treating at least one fraction of the effluent that is obtained from the preceding stage under conditions of addition of the olefins to the mercaptans, and a distillation stage for obtaining a light fraction that is low in thiophene compounds and mercaptans, and a heavy fraction that is high in sulfur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Julia Magne-Drisch, Florent Picard
  • Patent number: 7431827
    Abstract: A process for the production of low sulfur, low olefin gasoline wherein a cracked naphtha, such as a full boiling range cracked naphtha, is first separated by fractional distillation into at least two fractions while simultaneously selectively hydrogenating the polyunsaturated compounds contained therein. The mono olefins in the light fraction are then subjected to etherification with alcohol to produce ethers or hydration with water to produce alcohols. The heavy fraction is subjected to sulfur removal by hydrodesulfurization or chemisorption. The two fractions are then combined to produce a low sulfur, low olefin gasoline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventors: Kerry L. Rock, Yi-Gang Xiong, Arvids Judzis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7423192
    Abstract: A method and system for blending components obtained from a feed stock. The method includes flowing a first stream through a membrane member, with the membrane member having a first wafer assembly comprising a first thin film polymer membrane, a first permeate zone, and heat transfer means for transferring heat from the first permeate zone to the polymer membrane. The method includes exposing the first stream to the polymer membrane and providing a heated fluid to the heat transfer means in order to heat the permeate zone and the polymer membrane as the first stream is being flown through the first wafer assembly. The method further includes removing a permeate stream from the permeate zone. The permeate stream may be conducted to at least one refinery process unit for further processing. In the preferred embodiment, the feed stock is a naphtha.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Craig Y. Sabottke, John G. Matragrano
  • Patent number: 7419586
    Abstract: A process for the selective hydrodesulfurization of olefinic naphtha streams containing a substantial amount of organically-bound sulfur and olefins. The olefinic naphtha stream is selectively desulfurized in a first hydrodesulfurization stage. The effluent stream from this first stage is sent to a separation zone wherein a lower boiling naphtha stream and a higher boiling naphtha stream are produced. The lower boiling naphtha stream is sent through at least two more separation zones, each at a lower temperature than the preceding separation stage. The higher boiling naphtha stream, which contains most of the sulfur moieties, is passed to a second hydrodesulfurization stage wherein at least a fraction of the sulfur moieties are removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Edward S. Ellis, John P. Greeley, Vasant Patel, Murali V. Ariyapadi
  • Patent number: 7374667
    Abstract: For the production of gasoline with a low sulfur content, a process comprises at least one stage for transformation of sulfur-containing compounds consisting of an alkylation or adsorption of sulfur-containing compounds and/or an increasing of the weight of light sulfur-containing compounds, at least one stage for treatment in the presence of an acid catalyst and at least one desulfurization treatment of at least a portion of the gasoline. The process can also optionally comprise at least one stage for selective hydrogenation of diolefins and optionally at least one fractionation of the gasoline that is obtained into at least two fractions: light gasoline and heavy gasoline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignees: BP Corporation North America, Inc., Institute Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Quentin Debuisschert, Denis Uzio, Jean-Luc Nocca, Florent Picard, David B Arnett, Mike Grayson, Donald E Zeek, Carl Snider
  • Patent number: 7361266
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a method of subjecting a feed oil to a refining process. This method includes a fractional distillation step 1 in which a feed oil is separated into a distillate oil M1 and a bottom oil M2 by a distillation process, a separation step in which the bottom oil is separated into a bottom light oil and a residue, and a hydrorefining step 3 in which the obtained distillate oil M1 and the bottom oil M2 are subjected to hydrorefining in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst. In the hydrorefining step 3, the bottom light oil (deasphalted oil M3) is passed through a first catalyst layer 12 of a hydrorefining unit providing a plurality of catalyst layers 12, 13, and 13 filled with a hydrorefining catalyst, and a mixed oil comprising the distillate oil M1 and the bottom light oil (deasphalted oil M3) is passed through a downstream catalyst layer 13 and subject to a hydrogenation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: JGC Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Inomata, Tsuyoshi Okada, Kozo Imura, Hajime Sasaki
  • Patent number: 7361265
    Abstract: A process for the hydrodesulfurization of cracked olefin streams is described, the process aiming at reducing the sulfur content while at the same time minimizing the hydrogenation degree of said olefins. In order to dilute the added reaction hydrogen, the process makes use of non-reactive compounds such as N2, CH4, C2H6, C3H8, C4H10, Group VIII noble gases as well as admixtures of same in any amount, in gas or vapor phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.-Petrobras
    Inventors: Rafael M. de Almeida, Jefferson Roberto Gomes
  • Patent number: 7357856
    Abstract: A two stage process for selectively hydrodesulfurizing olefinic and sulfur and nitrogen-containing naphtha feedstreams wherein the first stage is a nitrogen removal stage to produce a naphtha feedstream having reduced levels of nitrogen compounds and a second stage wherein the naphtha feedstream having reduced levels of nitrogen compounds is hydrodesulfuried with a catalyst and under conditions selective to remove sulfur with minimum olefin saturation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Peter W. Jacobs, Garland B. Brignac, Thomas R. Halbert, Madhav Acharya, Theresa A. Lelain
  • Patent number: 7309416
    Abstract: Sulfur is removed from a hydrocarbon fuel via contact with a desulfurization agent; the desulfurization agent is then regenerated (wherein sulfur is released) by exposing it to oxygen. The sulfur removal and regeneration processes each can be carried out at relatively moderate temperatures, e.g., from 300 to 600° C., and pressure, e.g., about 0.79 to about 3.5 MPa; and the desulfurization agent can include a transition metal oxide, such as molybdenum oxide. The process can also include the additional steps of cracking the hydrocarbon, separating high-boiling and low-boiling fractions from the reaction product and contacting the lower-boiling fraction with a secondary desulfurization agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Aspen Products Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. Fokema, Wendell E. Rhine, Neng Ye, Kang P. Lee, Jennifer P. Gordon
  • Patent number: 7288183
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process for desulphurizing gasoline comprising a step for fractionating said gasoline under conditions in which a light fraction comprising the lightest thiophene compounds such as thiophene or methylthiophenes and a heavy fraction concentrating the heaviest aromatic sulphur-containing compounds are obtained. Said heavy fraction is treated by hydrodesulphurization, while the light fraction is brought into contact with a solid adsorbant to eliminate at least a portion of said light thiophene compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Institut Francais Du Petrole
    Inventors: Alexandre Nicolaos, Florent Picard
  • Patent number: 7276151
    Abstract: Feed oil is subject to atmospheric distillation, to thereby be separated into light oil or light distillate and atmospheric residue oil. The light distillate is catalytically contacted with pressurized hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst, resulting in a first hydrotreating step being executed. In this instance, various fractions of the light distillate produced in the atmospheric distillation are subject to hydrotreating in a lump. The atmospheric residue oil is then separated into a light matter and a heavy matter. The light matter is subject to second hydrotreating in the presence of a catalyst to produce refined oil (light matter), which is mixed with refined oil produced in the first hydrotreating to prepare a mixture. The mixture is used as gas turbine fuel oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: JGC Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Okada, Yoshinori Mashiko, Shinichi Tokuda, Tomoyoshi Sasaki, Kozo Imura, Makoto Inomata, Toshio Tanuma
  • Patent number: 7270737
    Abstract: For desulfurization of a hydrocarbon-containing feedstock, at least one stage for selective hydrogenation of diolefins present in the initial hydrocarbon feedstock, in the presence of a catalyst of group VIII of the period table, and a stage for extraction by a solvent of the resultant hydrogenated fraction under conditions that provide at least two fractions: a raffinate that comprises for the most part olefins, paraffins and naphthenes and a reduced amount of sulfur-containing compounds that are contained in the initial feedstock, a fraction that contains the majority of the aromatic hydrocarbons and the majority of the sulfur-containing compounds contained in the initial feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Florent Picard, Raphaël Huyghe
  • Patent number: 7267761
    Abstract: A membrane is used in combination with fractionation and hydrodesulfurization to reduce the sulfur content of hydrocarbon feeds, preferably sulfur-containing naphtha feeds. A membrane separation zone is employed to treat a fraction of effluent from a fractionation zone containing sulfur-containing non-aromatic hydrocarbons to produce a sulfur rich permeate and sulfur deficient retentate. The sulfur rich permeate and a second fraction of the fractionation zone, which contains sulfur-containing aromatic hydrocarbons, are further treated in a hydrodesulfurization zone. The stream from the hydrodesulfurization zone and the sulfur deficient retentate from the membrane separation zone are then processed as low sulfur hydrocarbon streams, especially those streams being processed in the manufacture of gasoline when the initial hydrocarbon stream is naphtha from a fluidized catalytic cracking unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: W.R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventor: Jeffrey William Balko
  • Patent number: 7261808
    Abstract: A process to further upgrade a pre-processed used lubricating oil by: (a) contacting the partially upgraded used oil in the presence of hydrogen with a hydrodemetallization catalyst; (b) contacting the effluent of step (a) in the presence of hydrogen with a hydrotreating catalyst; (c) contacting the effluent of step (b) in the presence of hydrogen with a dewaxing catalyst; and (d) contacting the effluent of step (c) in the presence of hydrogen with a hydrotreating catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Pierre Grandvallet, Anthony Patrick Hagan, Laurent Georges Huve
  • Patent number: 7252756
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for the production of refinery transportation fuel or components for refinery blending of transportation fuels having a reduced amount of sulfur and/or nitrogen-containing impurities. The process involves contacting a hydrocarbon feedstock containing the above impurities with an immiscible phase containing hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid in an oxidation zone to selectively oxidize the impurities. After a gravity phase separation, the hydrocarbon phase containing any remaining oxidized impurities, is passed to an extraction zone wherein aqueous acetic acid is used to extract a portion of any remaining oxidized impurities. A hydrocarbon stream having reduced impurities can then be recovered. The acetic acid phase effluents from the oxidation and the extraction zones can then be passed to a common separation zone for recovery of the acetic acid and for optional recycle back to the oxidation and extraction zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventors: William H. Gong, Larry W. Kruse, George A. Huff, Michael Muskett
  • Patent number: 7250142
    Abstract: Device for mixing and distributing a dense, generally liquid, fluid and a light, generally gaseous, fluid, placed in a reaction chamber upstream from a granular bed (70) or between two successive granular beds, the said device being characterized by a tubular system (50) for the introduction of dense fluid from outside the reactor, up to a level lower than the level of establishment of the interface between the dense fluid and the light fluid, situated above the plate and preferably more or less next to that of the plate (62). Application of this device to any type of gas/liquid reaction in a fixed bed in particular for hydrotreatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Institut Francois du Petrole
    Inventors: Christophe Boyer, Vincent Coupard
  • Patent number: 7244350
    Abstract: A process to continuously prepare a hydrocarbon product having a specified desired sulphur content lower than 0.05 wt %, starting from at least two or more high-sulphur hydrocarbon feedstocks having a sulphur content of above 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Bernard Martin, Jean-Luc Christian Rouby, Wouter Frederik Timmermans, Frederic Viel
  • Patent number: 7182922
    Abstract: For mixing and distributing a gas phase and a liquid phase over a granular bed, employing an annular peripheral zone inside a reactor via which liquid is introduced and which acts as a buffer zone against fluctuations in the flow of the liquid phase. The device is applicable to catalytic bed chemical reactors especially for the hydrotreatment of hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Christophe Boyer, Vincent Coupard
  • Patent number: 7175754
    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: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventors: Willibrord A. Groten, Kerry L. Rock
  • Patent number: 7160438
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the removal of nitrogen and sulfur containing impurities from high molecular weight petroleum feedstock obtained from fluid cracking catalyst or distillation zone of a petroleum treatment plant. The present process comprises first treating C12 and higher hydrocarbon petroleum feedstock having nitrogen and sulfur containing compounds therein with a porous, particulate adsorbent comprising a silica matrix having an effective amount of metal atoms therein to cause the adsorbent to have Lewis acidity of at least 500 ?mol/g and then treating the resultant feedstock to catalytic hydrodesulfurization to produce a hydrocarbon fuel having low sulfur and nitrogen content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: W.R. Grace & Co. - Conn.
    Inventors: Markus Friedrich Manfred Lesemann, Constance Setzer
  • Patent number: 7159740
    Abstract: A sample preparation system provides an automated process that dispenses appropriate amounts of solid material into wells of a microtiter plate for mixing into a suspension. The system utilizes an array of hollow tubes that are lowered into a particle reservoir such that particle material is forced up into the tubes. During loading, solid plungers in the tubes are positioned a known distance from the open end of the tubes. When the particle material is to be dispensed, the plungers are lowered to push the particle material out of the tubes and into receiving wells of the microtiter plate. The plunger stroke and internal diameter of the tubes defines the dispensed volume of particle material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Sequenom, Inc.
    Inventors: Elizabeth Nanthakumar, Josef Backes, Siegfried Unger
  • Patent number: 7153415
    Abstract: A light cracked naphtha is treated to convert mercaptans to sulfides and saturate dienes and then subjected to destructive hydrodesulfurization (HDS) to convert the organic sulfur compounds to hydrogen sulfide. The recombinant mercaptans formed by reaction of hydrogen sulfide and olefins at the outlet of the HDS are generally heavier than the light cracked naphtha is fractionated in admixture with a heavy cracked naphtha. A low sulfur content light cracked naphtha is produced as an overheads and the major portion of the mercaptans leave with heavy cracked naphtha as bottoms. It also advantageous to pass the heavy cracked naphtha through the HDS in admixture with the light cracked naphtha, since the recombinant mercaptans formed with the heavy cracked naphtha olefins (which displace some of the lower mercaptans which would form the light cracked naphtha olefins) will be even higher boiling and easier to separate by fractionation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventors: Gary G. Podrebarac, Willibrord A. Groten, Manoj Som, Martinus J. Almering
  • Patent number: 7141640
    Abstract: An upflow reactor for the production of bisphenol A from acetone and phenol includes a vessel, a catalyst bed disposed within the vessel, and a reactant distribution/product collection system disposed within the vessel. The reactant distribution/product collection system includes a perforated distributor disposed at a lower end of the reactor. The reactant distribution/product collection system further includes a perforated collector disposed at an upper end of the reactor. A method for producing bisphenol A from acetone and phenol Includes Introducing the reacting mixture containing acetone and phenol to the distributor, directing it upward through the catalyst bed, and recovering the reacted acetone and phenol as bisphenol A together with other isomers and non reacted species. A method for avoiding catalyst bead carryover from the bed in an upflow reactor Includes receiving a product of the upflow reactor into the collector disposed at an upper end of the reactor through a screen with proper slit size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hatem Belfadhel, Corinne Duchanoy, Jan-Willem Goedmakers, Eduard Hendricus Schlarmann, Monique I. R. de Winne
  • Patent number: 7125484
    Abstract: A process for the treatment of light naphtha hydrocarbon streams is disclosed wherein the mercaptans contained therein are reacted with diolefins simultaneous with fractionation into a light stream and a heavy stream. The heavy stream is then simultaneously treated at high temperatures and low pressures and fractionated. The naphtha is then stripped of the hydrogen sulfide in a final stripper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventor: Lawrence A. Smith, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7122114
    Abstract: A process for reducing sulfur compounds in naphtha to produce gasoline of ultra-low sulfur content, i.e., 10–30 ppm of sulfur, from a fluidized catalytic cracking reactor effluent stream, withdraws a high sulfur content sidestream of catalytically produced medium and heavy cat naphtha with an endpoint of +430° F. that is fed to a side column where any thiophenic and benzothophenic compounds are catalytically reacted with hydrogen to convert them to hydrogen sulfide. The desulfurized light and mid-cut naphtha is returned to the main fractionation unit and the heavy catalytic naphtha is withdrawn as a product stream from the bottom of the side column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Inventor: Christopher Dean
  • Patent number: 7094332
    Abstract: A hydrocracking process to produce ultra low sulfur diesel by reacting a first hydrocarbon feedstock in a hydrocracking zone, introducing the hydrocracking zone effluent and a second hydrocarbon feedstock having a majority boiling at a temperature greater than 565° C. (1050° F.) into a first desulfurization zone, passing the first desulfurization zone effluent to a hot, high pressure vapor-liquid separator to recover a vaporous hydrocarbonaceous stream and a first liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream, introducing the vaporous hydrocarbonaceous stream and a third hydrocarbonaceous feedstock comprising diesel into a second desulfurization zone, passing the second desulfurization zone effluent to a cold vapor-liquid separator to provide a hydrogen-rich gaseous stream and a second liquid hydrocarbonaceous stream and passing the first and the second liquid hydrocarbonaceous streams to a fractionation zone to produce ultra low sulfur diesel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Tom N. Kalnes, Vasant P. Thakkar
  • Patent number: 7090766
    Abstract: A process wherein all of the unsaturates within a cracked naphtha stream are substantially hydrogenated to alkanes and the olefin depleted stream is then subjected to hydrodesulfurization to achieve the desired sulfur levels without the formation of recombinant mercaptans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Inventors: Kenneth H. Johnson, Richard L. Moseley
  • Patent number: 7087156
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the removal of nitrogen and sulfur containing impurities from high molecular weight petroleum feedstock obtained from fluid cracking catalyst or distillation zone of a petroleum treatment plant. The present process comprises first treating C12 and higher hydrocarbon petroleum feedstock having nitrogen and sulfur containing compounds therein with a porous, particulate adsorbent comprising a silica matrix having an effective amount of metal atoms therein to cause the adsorbent to have Lewis acidity of at least 500 ?mol/g and then treating the resultant feedstock to catalytic hydrodesulfurization to produce a hydrocarbon fuel having low sulfur and nitrogen content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: W.R. Grace & Co. - Conn.
    Inventors: Markus Friedrich Manfred Lesemann, Constance Setzer
  • Patent number: 7081196
    Abstract: In crude oil fractions, fossil fuels, and organic liquids in general in which it is desirable to reduce the levels of sulfur-containing and nitrogen-containing components, the process reduces the level of these compounds via the application of sonic energy. The process can be performed both with and without the added presence of an oxidizing agent, and with or without elevated temperature and/or pressure. The invention is performed either as a continuous process or a batch process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Inventor: Mark Cullen
  • Patent number: 7052598
    Abstract: A process for the production of gasoline with a low sulfur content that comprises at least one selective hydrogenation of diolefins, optionally at least one stage for transformation, preferably to increase their weight, for light sulfur-containing compounds that are present in the gasoline, at least one fractionation of the gasoline that is obtained into at least two fractions: light gasoline and heavy gasoline, then optionally a stage for transformation, preferably for alkylation or adsorption, of sulfur-containing compounds and a desulfurization treatment in a stage of at least a portion of the heavy fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignees: Institut Francais du Petrole, BP Corporation North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Quentin Debuisschert, Denis Uzio, Jean-Luc Nocca, Florent Picard
  • Patent number: 7048846
    Abstract: A membrane process for the removal of sulfur species from a naphtha feed, in particular, a FCC light cat naphtha, without a substantial loss of olefin yield is disclosed. The process involves contacting a naphtha feed stream with a membrane having sufficient flux and selectivity to separate a sulfur deficient retentate fraction from a sulfur enriched permeate fraction, preferably, under pervaporation conditions. Sulfur deficient retentate fractions are useful directly into the gasoline pool. Sulfur-enriched permeate fractions are rich in sulfur containing aromatic and nonaromatic hydrocarbons and are further treated with conventional sulfur removal technologies, e.g. hydrotreating, to reduce sulfur content. The process of the invention provides high quality naphtha products having a reduced sulfur content and a high content of olefin compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: W.R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Lloyd Steven White, Richard Franklin Wormsbecher, Markus Lesemann
  • Patent number: 7041212
    Abstract: A membrane process for the removal of sulfur species from a naphtha feed, in particular, a FCC light cat naphtha, without a substantial loss of olefin yield is disclosed. The process involves contacting a naphtha feed stream with a membrane having sufficient flux and selectivity to separate a sulfur deficient retentate fraction from a sulfur enriched permeate fraction, preferably, under pervaporation conditions. Sulfur deficient retentate fractions are useful directly into the gasoline pool. Sulfur-enriched permeate fractions are rich in sulfur containing aromatic and nonaromatic hydrocarbons and are further treated with conventional sulfur removal technologies, e.g. hydrotreating, to reduce sulfur content. The process of the invention provides high quality naphtha products having a reduced sulfur content and a high content of olefin compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: W.R. Grace & Co. - Conn.
    Inventors: Lloyd Steven White, Richard Franklin Wormsbecher, Markus Lesemann
  • Patent number: 7018527
    Abstract: A membrane process for the removal of sulfur species from a naphtha feed, in particular, a FCC light cat naphtha, without a substantial loss of olefin yield is disclosed. The process involves contacting a naphtha feed stream with a membrane having sufficient flux and selectivity to separate a sulfur deficient retentate fraction from a sulfur enriched permeate fraction, preferably, under pervaporation conditions. Sulfur deficient retentate fractions are useful directly into the gasoline pool. Sulfur-enriched permeate fractions are rich in sulfur containing aromatic and nonaromatic hydrocarbons and are further treated with conventional sulfur removal technologies, e.g. hydrotreating, to reduce sulfur content. The process of the invention provides high quality naphtha products having a reduced sulfur content and a high content of olefin compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: W.R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Lloyd Steven White, Richard Franklin Wormsbecher, Markus Lesemann
  • Patent number: 7005058
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and process for controlling the sulfur content of effluent from a hydrocarbon fractionation column. The effluent includes a low boiling stream, a middle boiling stream and a high boiling stream. Either of the feed or the low boiling stream may be subjected to a mercaptan removal treatment such as thioetherification or mercaptan oxidation treatment. The high boiling stream is subjected to hydrotreatment which will rid the high boiling stream of almost all organic sulfur compounds. The middle boiling stream may be subjected to a sulfur treatment complex which may comprise a sulfur removal unit and/or a catalytic reforming unit which may already be present in the refinery. Control valves govern the flow of adding the middle boiling stream to the low boiling stream and the high boiling stream in response to the sulfur concentration of the overhead stream downstream of the mercaptan removal treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Gavin P. Towler
  • Patent number: 6984312
    Abstract: A process for the treatment of a light cracked naphtha is disclosed wherein the light cracked naphtha is first subjected to thioetherification and fractionation into two boiling fractions. The lower boiling fraction is removed as overheads for later recombination with the product and the higher boiling fraction is combined with a heavy cracked naphtha and subjected to simultaneous hydrodesulfurization and fractionation to separate the higher boiling fraction from the heavy cracked naphtha which is recycled. The recycled heavy cracked naphtha is eventually desulfurized and hydrogenated to produce a clean solvent which washes the catalyst and extends catalyst life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventors: Manoj Som, Gary G. Podrebarac, Scott W. Shorey
  • Patent number: 6972086
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of gasoline with a low sulfur content comprising at least three stages: a first stage in which the sulfur-containing compounds present in the gasoline are at least partially transformed into H2S and into saturated sulfur-containing compounds; a second stage whose purpose is to eliminate the H2S from the gasoline produced in the first stage; and a third stage in which the saturated sulfur-containing compounds remaining in the gasoline are transformed into H2S. The process according to the invention optionally also comprises a pretreatment stage whose purpose is to hydrogenate the diolefins of the feedstock before the first stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Institut Français du Pétrole
    Inventors: Blaise Didillon, Denis Uzio, Jean-Luc Nocca, Quentin Debuisschert
  • Patent number: 6955753
    Abstract: A process and apparatus to extract and recover heavy metals and sulfur from crude oil or petroleum fuel products including the steps of emulsifying the crude oil with an emulsifying agent, adding a leach solution to the emulsified crude oil and leaching the emulsified crude oil at elevated temperature and pressure to give a leached emulsified crude oil. The leach solution may be acid or alkali. A proportion of the leach solution is extracted for recovering heavy metals. There can also be a microwave hydro-treating step using hydrogen gas at a temperature below 220° C. to ensure there is no quality degradation in the crude feed to produce a desulfurized crude oil and a hydrogen sulphide by-product and recovering sulfur from the hydrogen sulphide by-product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: RMG Services Pty.Ltd.
    Inventor: Rodolfo Antonio M. Gomez
  • Patent number: 6933323
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a stable, low sulfur, olefinic distillate fuel blend component derived from a Fischer-Tropsch process and a process for producing this stable, low sulfur, olefinic distillate fuel blend component. The stable, low sulfur, olefinic distillate fuel comprises olefins in an amount of 2 to 80 weight percent, non-olefins in an amount of 20 to 98 weight percent wherein the non-olefins are predominantly paraffins, oxygenates in an amount of less than 1 weight percent, and sulfur in an amount of less than 10 ppm by weight. A distillate fuel comprising the above blend component forms less than 5 ppm peroxides after storage at 60° C. for four weeks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. O'Rear, Guan Dao Lei
  • Patent number: 6896796
    Abstract: A membrane process for the removal of sulfur species from a naphtha feed, in particular, a FCC light cat naphtha, without a substantial loss of olefin yield is disclosed. The process involves contacting a naphtha feed stream with a membrane having sufficient flux and selectivity to separate a sulfur deficient retentate fraction from a sulfur enriched permeate fraction, preferably, under pervaporation conditions. Sulfur deficient retentate fractions are useful directly into the gasoline pool. Sulfur-enriched permeate fractions are rich in sulfur containing aromatic and nonaromatic hydrocarbons and are further treated with conventional sulfur removal technologies, e.g. hydrotreating, to reduce sulfur content. The process of the invention provides high quality naphtha products having a reduced sulfur content and a high content of olefin compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Lloyd Steven White, Richard Franklin Wormsbecher, Markus Lesemann
  • Patent number: 6881325
    Abstract: Economical processes are disclosed for the production of components for refinery blending of transportation fuels by selective oxidation of feedstocks comprising a mixture of hydrocarbons, sulfur-containing and nitrogen-containing organic compounds. Oxidation feedstock is contacted with a soluble quaternary ammonium salt containing halogen, sulfate, or bisulfate anion, and an immiscible aqueous phase comprising a source of hydrogen peroxide, and at least one member of the group consisting of phosphomolybdic acid and phosphotungstic acid, in a liquid reaction mixture under conditions suitable for reaction of one or more of the sulfur-containing and/or nitrogen-containing organic compounds. Blending components containing less sulfur and/or less nitrogen than the oxidation feedstock are recovered from the reaction mixture. Advantageously, at least a portion of the immiscible acid-containing phase is recycled to the oxidation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventors: George Ernest Morris, Andrew Richard Lucy, William H. Gong, Monica Cristina Regalbuto, George A. Huff, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6881324
    Abstract: A process for the treatment of light naphtha hydrocarbon streams is disclosed wherein the mercaptans contained therein are reacted with diolefins simultaneous with fractionation into a light stream and a heavy stream. The heavy stream is then simultaneously treated at high temperatures and low pressures and fractionated. The naphtha is then stripped of the hydrogen sulfide in a final stripper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Catalytic Distillation Technologies
    Inventor: Lawrence A. Smith, Jr.