Removal of phosphates from hydrocarbon streams

Abstract

Phosphates can be removed from a hydrocarbon stream by contacting said stream with a ceramic formed of a basic material which is insoluble in the hydrocarbon stream. A ceramic as used in this patent document is a solid solution formed by calcination of a compound. The removal of the organic acid is accomplished at temperatures ranging from 20.degree. C. to 400.degree. C., a preferred temperature is between 200.degree. C. and 370.degree. C. A hydrocarbon stream consists of C.sub.5 + hydrocarbons. The basic material can be made up of one or more alkaline earth oxides, alkaline earth compounds, alkaline metal compounds, group IIIA element compounds, group IVA element compounds, group VIA element compounds. Preferred alkaline earth oxides are sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, aluminum and silicon. The support for the basic material can be made from any inorganic oxide. A preferred composition is a combination of two or more alkaline earth oxides blended with an inorganic oxide support and calcined to form a ceramic material. The ceramic material should contain a large surface area and pore size to allow efficient removal of the organic acids. For example, the surface area should be at least over 50 m.sup.2 /g, and the higher the better. The ceramic material should be placed in a hot hydrocarbon stream to facilitate the destruction and removal of organic acids within the stream. Application of the process to acids is also described.