# US 10,865,347 B2 · Process for the treatment of refinery purge streams

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- Number: US 10,865,347 B2
- Document ID: US10865347B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/781,503
- Filed: 2016-12-21
- Published: 2018-09-27
- Granted: 2020-12-15
- Earliest claimed: 2015-12-22
- Assignees: ENI S.p.A.
- Applicants: ENI S.p.A.
- Inventors: Andrea Bartolini
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10865347B2

## CPC

- C10G 31/10: with the aid of centrifugal force
- B01J 23/94: of catalysts comprising metals, oxides or hydroxides of the iron group metals or copper
- C10G 21/003: {Solvent de-asphalting}
- C10G 21/12: Organic compounds only
- C10G 21/14: Hydrocarbons
- C10G 31/06: by heating, cooling, or pressure treatment
- C10G: CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION (cracking to hydrogen or synthesis gas C01B; cracking or pyrolysis of hydrocarbon gases to individual hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof of definite or specified constitution C07C; cracking to cokes C10B); RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS

## Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for the treatment of refinery purge streams, containing a hydrocarbon component in slurry phase having a boiling point higher than or equal to 140° C., characterized by the presence of quantities of asphaltenes higher than or equal to 5% by weight and characterized by the presence of a solid content higher than or equal to 5% by weight. The process provides that said purge be mixed with a suitable fluxing agent according to appropriate ratios and under certain conditions, forming a suspension with a content higher than or equal to 10% by weight of compounds having a boiling point TbP lower than or equal to 350° C. After mixing, the suspension is sent to a liquid/solid separation step which operates under suitable conditions, separating a solid phase containing a residual organic component and a solid component, called cake, and a liquid phase containing residual solids. The solid phase obtained is cooled to below 60° C., including the upper extreme, forming a granular solid which is stored and maintained at a temperature lower than or equal to 60° C.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for the treatment of refinery purge streams, the process comprising:
a) withdrawing a refinery purge stream comprising a hydrocarbon component in slurry phase having a boiling point higher than or equal to 140° C., characterized by the presence of quantities of asphaltenes higher than or equal to 5% by weight and characterized by the presence of solid contents greater than or equal to 5% by weight;
b) mixing said purge, at a temperature higher than or equal to 100° C., with a fluxing agent, having a total content of aromatic compounds ranging from 50% to 70% by weight, and an initial boiling point equal to or higher than the temperature at which the mixing is carried out, wherein the fluxing agent is a mixture of Vacuum Gas Oil (VGO) and High Vacuum Gas Oil, so as to form a suspension with a content higher than or equal to 10% by weight of compounds having a boiling point Tbp lower than or equal to 350° C.;
c) sending said suspension to a liquid-solid separation step, which operates at a temperature higher than or equal to 100° C., separating a solid phase comprising a residual organic component and a solid component, or cake, and a liquid phase comprising residual solids;
d) cooling the solid phase thus obtained to 60° C. or less, and storing it, maintaining it at a temperature lower than or equal to 60° C.;
wherein a weight ratio between purge and fluxing agent ranges from 1:0.5 to 1:4; and an average residence time of the mixture during the mixing and before the liquid-solid separation is lower than or equal to 12 hours.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the solids contained in the purge stream comprise carbonaceous residues, metallic compounds and catalysts in the form of particles having a D50 lower than or equal to 1 mm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the average residence time of the mixture during the mixing is lower than or equal to 3 hours.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the metallic compounds contained in the purge are either Ni sulfides, or V sulfides, or Fe sulfides or mixtures thereof.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the mixing temperature ranges from 100° C. to 200° C.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the solid-liquid separation takes place at temperatures ranging from 100 to 200° C.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the suspension has a content ranging from 15% to 50% of compounds having a boiling point lower than or equal to 350° C.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The process according to claim 1, wherein the weight ratio between purge and fluxing agent ranges from 1:1 to 1:2.