Hydrocarbon processes using halometallate ionic liquid micro-emulsions
AssigneeUop LLC
InventorsAvram M. Buchbinder, Hayim Abrevaya, Gavin P. Towler
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Abstract
A process utilizing a micro-emulsion is described. The micro-emulsion formed by contacting an ionic liquid, a co-solvent, a hydrocarbon, an optional surfactant, and an optional catalyst promoter to form the micro-emulsion. The micro-emulsion comprises a hydrocarbon component comprising the hydrocarbon and an ionic liquid component comprising the ionic liquid. The ionic liquid comprises a halometallate anion and a cation. The co-solvent has a polarity greater than a polarity of the hydrocarbon. The ionic liquid is present in an amount of 0.05 wt % to 40 wt % of the micro-emulsion. A product mixture comprising a product is produced in a process zone containing the micro-emulsion.
Claims20
A process utilizing a micro-emulsion comprising:
- forming the micro-emulsion comprising:
- contacting an ionic liquid, a co-solvent, a hydrocarbon, an optional surfactant, and an optional catalyst promoter to form the micro-emulsion, the micro-emulsion comprising a hydrocarbon component comprising the hydrocarbon and an ionic liquid component comprising the ionic liquid, the ionic liquid comprising a halometallate anion and a cation, the co-solvent having a polarity greater than a polarity of the hydrocarbon, the ionic liquid being present in an amount of 0.05 wt % to 40 wt % of the micro-emulsion;
- and
- producing a product mixture in a process zone containing the micro-emulsion, the product mixture comprising a product.
An alkylation process comprising:
- passing a micro-emulsion to an alkylation reactor, the micro-emulsion formed by:
- contacting an ionic liquid, a co-solvent, an isoparaffin, an optional surfactant, and an optional catalyst promoter to form the micro-emulsion, the micro-emulsion comprising:
- a hydrocarbon component comprising the isoparaffin, the isoparaffin having from 4 to 10 carbon atoms;
- an ionic liquid component comprising the ionic liquid, the ionic liquid comprising a halometallate anion and a cation;
- a co-solvent having a polarity greater than a polarity of the isoparaffin, the ionic liquid being present in an amount of about 0.05 wt % to about 40 wt % of the micro-emulsion;
- and
- passing an olefin having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms to the alkylation reactor containing the micro-emulsion, wherein the alkylation reactor is operated at alkylation reaction conditions to react the olefin and the isoparaffin to generate a reaction mixture comprising an alkylate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.