Method for the separation of a mixture of petroleum acids from petroleum distillates containing such a mixture
AssigneeAB Nynas-Petroleum
InventorCarl Arne Bergholm
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mixture of petroleum acids can effectively be separated from a petroleum distillate containing such a mixture by adjusting the molecular weight distribution of the petroleum acids in the mixture so that at least 10% of the acids have a molecular weight of less than 260 and at least 50% of the acids have a molecular weight of more than 260, treating the petroleum distillate with an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide which solution is added with at least 5% of a sodium salt, calculated on the weight of the aqueous solution, at a temperature of at least 85.degree. C in one or more reactors to the formation of a reaction mixture containing three phases and causing said three phases to separate.
Claims15
The method which comprises
- a. providing a liquid petroleum distillate containing a mixture of petroleum acids, at least 10% of the petroleum acids having a molecular weight less than 260 and at least 50% of the acids having a molecular weight of more than 260,
- b. treating said petroleum distillate in at least one reaction zone with the combination consisting of:
- 1. an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide, and
- 2. sodium sulfate in an amount equal to 10 - 15% by weight of the aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide,
- said treatment being carried out at a temperature of at least 85.degree. C.,
- to thereby form a reaction mixture containing
- a first phase consisting of neutral petroleum distillate,
- a second heavier phase consisting of an aqueous mixture containing sodium salts of the petroleum acids, and
- a third still heavier phase consisting of an aqueous solution of sodium sulfate, and
- c. separating said first, second and third phases from one another.
A method according to claim 22 wherein the excess amounts to up to 60%.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.