The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 18, 1986
Filed:
Dec. 04, 1984
Mark A Plummer, Littleton, CO (US);
Marathon Oil Company, Findlay, OH (US);
Abstract
A process for reducing the molecular weight of hydrocarbons using NaAlCl.sub.4 is provided wherein the hydrogen to carbon ratio of the liquid product slate is approximately the same as the feed material. The process comprises contacting the feed material with a molten salt of NaAlCl.sub.4 having substantially no excess aluminum chloride or sodium chloride, preferably at a temperature of at least 660.degree. F., and at a pressure above atmospheric, preferably from about 50 psia to about 2000 psia, depending upon the product slate desired. According to the present invention, heavy hydrocarbons are converted to a liquid product slate wherein the product slate has an average molecular weight substantially lower than the average molecular weight of the hydrocarbon feedstock.