Uop Lcc

J W Sachtler

R Joe Lawson

Paula L Bogdan

Robert J Schmidt

Gregory J Gajda

Wolfgang A Spieker

Adam D Ballard

Bipin Virpal Vora

Paul T Barger

Maureen L Bricker

Timur V Voskoboynikov

Susan L Lambert

Mark A Krawczyk

Srikantiah Raghuram

Ara J Alexanian

Daniel H Wei

Martin Plassen

Charles P Mcgonegal

A process combination is disclosed to selectively upgrade naphtha to obtain products suitable for further upgrading to reformulated fuels. A naphtha feedstock is hydrogenated to saturate aromatics, followed by selective isoparaffin synthesis to yield light and heavy naphtha and isobutane; isobutane and isopentane in the product are obtained in superequilibrium concentrations. The heavy naphtha may be processed by reforming, light naphtha may be isomerized, and isobutane may be upgraded by dehydrogenation, etherification and/or alkylation to yield gasoline components from the process combination suitable for production of reformulated gasoline.

Selective isoparaffin synthesis from naphtha

A process combination is disclosed to selectively upgrade catalytically cracked gasoline to obtain products suitable for further upgrading to reformulated fuels. A naphtha feedstock, preferably heavy naphtha, is hydrogenated to saturate aromatics, followed by selective isoparaffin synthesis to yield light and heavy synthesis naphtha and isobutane. The heavy synthesis naphtha may be processed by reforming, light naphtha may be isomerized, and isobutane may be upgraded by dehydrogenation, etherification and/or alkylation to yield gasoline components from the process combination suitable for production of reformulated gasoline.

Selective upgrading of naphtha

An isomerization process maximizes the production of 2,3-dimethylbutane by using an arrangement of two reaction zones that operate at low conversion conditions to maximize the production of a methyl pentane containing intermediate and limit the interconversion of 2,3-dimethylbutane to 2,2-dimethylbutane. The process converts a feed comprising normal hexane in a first reaction zone. The effluent from the first reaction zone has a high concentration of methyl pentanes which is separated from normal hexane and passed to a second separation section that receives the effluent from a second reaction zone. Methyl pentanes from the first and second reaction zone effluents enter the second reaction zone for conversion to dimethylbutane in a high 2,3-dimethylbutane to 2,2-dimethylbutane ratio. In this manner the process produces a principally dimethylbutane product having a relatively high octane rating as a result of the high 2,3-dimethylbutane concentration.

Isomerization process for 2,3-dimethylbutane production

A process combination is disclosed to reduce the aromatics content of a key component of gasoline blends. Paraffins contained in catalytic reformates are conserved and upgraded by separation and isomerization, reducing the reforming severity required to achieve a given product octane with concomitant reduction in paraffin aromatization and cracking. Light reformate may be separated and isomerized, and heavier paraffins are separated from the reformate by solvent extraction or adsorption; the recovered heavy paraffins are isomerized, optionally at a substoichiometric hydrogen ratio. A gasoline component having a reduced aromatics content relative to reformate of the same octane number is blended from the net products of the separation and isomerization steps.

Production of reformulated gasoline

A process combination is disclosed to selectively upgrade naphtha to obtain products suitable for further upgrading to reformulated fuels. A naphtha feedstock is hydrogenated to saturate aromatics, followed by selective isoparaffin synthesis to yield light and heavy naphtha and isobutane. The heavy naphtha may be processed by reforming, light naphtha may be isomerized, and isobutane may be upgraded by dehydrogenation, etherification and/or alkylation to yield gasoline components from the process combination suitable for production of reformulated gasoline.

A process combination is disclosed to reduce the aromatics content and increase the oxygen content of a key component of gasoline blends. A naphtha feedstock having a boiling range usually suitable as catalytic-reforming feed is processed by selective isoparaffin synthesis to yield lower-molecular weight hydrocarbons including a high yield of isobutane. The isobutane is processed to yield an ether component by dehydrogenation and etherification. The cracked light naphtha may be upgraded by isomerization. The heavier portion of the cracked naphtha is processed in a reformer. A gasoline component containing oxygen as ether and having a reduced aromatics content and increased volumetric yield relative to reformate of the same octane number is blended from the net products of the above processing steps. The process combination is particularly suited for use in an existing refinery.

Reformulated-gasoline production

A process combination is disclosed to reduce the aromatics content and increase the oxygen content of a key component of gasoline blends. A naphtha feedstock having a boiling range usually suitable as catalytic-reforming feed is processed by selective isoparaffin synthesis to yield lower-molecular weight hydrocarbons including a high yield of isobutane. A portion of the isobutane is processed to yield an ether component by dehydrogenation to yield isobutene followed by etherification. Part of the isobutane and isobutene are alkylated to produce an alkylate component. The synthesis light naphtha may be upgraded by isomerization. The heavier portion of the synthesis naphtha is processed in a reformer. A gasoline component containing oxygen as ether and having a reduced aromatics content and increased volumetric yield relative to reformate of the same octane number is blended from the net products of the above processing steps.

A process is disclosed for reducing benzene and toluene content in light gasoline streams comprising benzene or benzene and toluene but comprising substantially no other aromatic-hydrocarbons. The light gasoline streams may be prepared by distillation of full boiling range gasoline streams from catalytic reforming or fluidized-bed catalytic cracking units. High alkylating agent to benzene ratios are utilized in the presence of a solid alkylation catalyst to achieve a benzene conversion of 70% of more in a single pass through the reaction zone. Alkylating agent is simultaneously injected into the alkylation zone at two or more separate injection points to minimize undersirable side reactions. The alkylation product may be recovered and blended with other gasoline components to produce automotive fuel which is low in benzene content and high octane in rating.

Process for reducing benzene content in gasoline

An improved process is disclosed for the isomerization of a non-equilibrium mixture of cresols to achieve a high yield of one or more cresol isomers using a catalyst comprising a Group VIII metal, a modifier, a pentasil zeolite, and an inorganic oxide binder.

Process for the isomerization of cresols

An improved catalyst is disclosed for the conversion of aromatic hydrocarbons which comprise a Group VIII metal, lead, a pentasil zeolite, and an inorganic oxide binder, wherein 80-100% of the Group VIII metal and 60-100% of the lead are contained on the binder. An alkylaromatic isomerization process also is disclosed which is particularly effective for the conversion of ethylbenzene without substantial loss of xylenes.

Catalyst for the isomerization of aromatics

An improved catalyst is disclosed for the conversion of aromatic hydrocarbons which comprises a Group VIII metal, lead, a pentasil zeolite, and an inorganic oxide binder, wherein 80-100% of the Group VIII metal and 60-100% of the lead are contained on the binder. An alkylaromatic isomerization process also is disclosed which is particularly effective for the conversion of ethylbenzene without substantial loss of xylenes.

This invention presents a process for isomerizing a non-equilibrium mixture of xylenes containing ethylbenzene, using a novel catalyst formulation comprising at least one Group VIII metal, a gallium-substituted pentasil zeolite and a matrix material of zirconia-alumina.

Process for isomerization of alkylaromatics

An improved catalyst for the isomerization of non-equilibrium C.sub.8 aromatics is presented which utilizes a novel catalytic composition. This catalyst comprises a Group VIII metal component, a bismuth component, and crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite having a silica to alumina ratio of at least 12. An isomerization process is also disclosed which has a particular utility for the conversion of ethylbenzene without the deleterious loss of xylene.

An improved process for the isomerization of non-equilibrium C.sub.8 aromatics is presented which utilizes a novel catalytic composition. This catalyst comprises a Group VIII metal component, a bismuth component, and crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite having a silica to alumina ratio of at least 12. This isomerization process has a particular utility for the conversion of ethylbenzene without the deleterious loss of xylene.

Process for the isomerization of aromatics

An isomerization catalyst is prepared by a novel method of incorporating magnesium into a crystalline aluminosilicate. The catalyst comprises an alumina matrix, a magnesium-containing zeolite, and a Group VIII metal component. It has been found that the method of magnesium addition can dramatically affect the selectivity to para-xylene, as measured by the loss of C.sub.8 aromatics due to undesirable side-reactions during the isomerization of C.sub.8 aromatics. The method of the instant invention involves addition of the magnesium to a hydrogel comprising pseudo-boehmite and a zeolite.

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Des Plaines, IL, United States of America

J W Sachtler