# US 4,399,023 A · Process for simultaneously cracking heavy hydrocarbons into light oils and producing hydrogen

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- Number: US 4,399,023 A
- Document ID: US4399023A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/348,540
- Filed: 1982-02-12
- Granted: 1983-08-16
- Earliest claimed: 1981-04-16
- Assignees: Research Association for Residual Oil Processing
- Inventors: Teruo Suzuka; Yukio Inoue; Shirou Aizawa; Yasushi Ishibashi; Hidetaka Ohse
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4399023A

## CPC

- C10G 11/14: with preheated moving solid catalysts
- B01J 23/94: of catalysts comprising metals, oxides or hydroxides of the iron group metals or copper
- C10G 11/18: according to the "fluidised-bed" technique
- Y02E 60/36: Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
- 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
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A process for simultaneously cracking heavy hydrocarbons to form light oil and producing hydrogen is described, which comprises (1) a first step wherein steam and heavy hydrocarbons are simultaneously contacted with a catalyst in a reduced state, containing iron in the form of iron oxide, to produce hydrogen, cracked gases and cracked light oils, to convert the reduced-state catalyst into an oxidized-state catalyst, and to deposit coke on the catalyst, (2) a second step wherein the oxidized-state catalyst with coke deposited thereon is contacted with an oxygen-containing gas to partially combust the coke on the catalyst, to convert the oxidized-state catalyst into a reduced-state catalyst, and to fix a sulfur compound contained in the coke as iron sulfide with a part of the reduced-state catalyst; and (3) a third step wherein catalyst obtained from the first step, the major portion of the catalyst being recycled between the first step and second step, is contacted with an oxygen-containing gas at a temperature of from 600.degree. to 1,000.degree. C. to effect roasting and gasification of iron sulfide in the catalyst.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for simultaneously cracking heavy hydrocarbons to form light oils and producing hydrogen, which comprises
a first step wherein steam and heavy hydrocarbons are simultaneously contacted with a catalyst in a reduced state, containing at least 30% by weight iron in the form of iron oxide, at a temperature of from 500.degree. to 800.degree. C., to produce hydrogen, cracked gases, and cracked light oils, to convert the reduced state catalyst into an oxidized-state catalyst, and to deposit coke on the catalyst, and
a second step wherein the oxidized-state catalyst with the coke deposited thereon is contacted with an oxygen-containing gas insufficient for achieving comp1ete combustion of the coke, at a temperature of from 750.degree. to 950.degree. C., to partially combust the coke on the catalyst, to convert the oxidized-state catalyst into a reduced-state catalyst, and to fix a sulfur compound contained in the coke as iron sulfide with a part of the reduced-state catalyst, wherein the improvement comprises that:
(1) a major portion of the catalyst is recycled between the first step and second step; and
(2) there is provided a third step wherein a part of the catalyst with coke deposited thereon formed in the first step is contacted with an oxygen-containing gas at a temperature of from 600.degree. to 1,000.degree. C. to effect roasting and gasification of iron sulfide in the catalyst, the catalyst after roasting and gasification of iron sulfide being recycled to the first step or the second step, or to both the first and second steps.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A process as in claim 1, wherein the oxygen-containing gas supplied to the third step contains steam.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A process as in claim 1, wherein the roasting and gasification of the third step is performed in a reducing atmosphere.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A process as in claim 1, wherein the temperature in the third step is from 600.degree. to 800.degree. C.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A process as in claim 1, wherein the quantity of oxygen in the oxygen-containing gas supplied to the third step is from 60 to 100 mole % of the theoretical amount necessary for complete combustion of the iron sulfide and coke.