Benzene removal and conversion from gasoline boiling range streams
AssigneeExxon Research & Engineering Co.
InventorsBal K. Kaul, Donald C. Runaldue, Joseph T. O'Bara, Craig Y. Sabottke, Edward Niessen
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Abstract
A totally contained adsorption process for the substantial total removal and conversion of benzene to cyclohexane in gasoline boiling range streams. At least a portion of the gasoline boiling range stream is passed through an adsorption zone containing an adsorbent which will selectively adsorb benzene from the stream. The process is totally contained in the sense that substantially total conversion of benzene to cyclohexane is achieved without the need for added desorbent. The desorbent is cyclohexane which is generated in the process.
Claims4
A process for selectively removing benzene from gasoline boiling range process streams, which process comprises:
- (a) passing at least a portion of a gasoline boiling range hydrocarbonaceous process stream to an adsorption zone containing a solid adsorbent comprised of an aluminosilicate zeolite material having a silica to alumina ratio of less than about 10, and an average pore diameter greater than the size of the benzene molecule;
- (b) passing a desorbent stream containing an effective amount of cyclohexane from a downstream hydrogenation zone, through the bed of benzene-containing adsorbent in the adsorption zone, thereby removing benzene from the adsorbent;
- (c) passing the benzene-containing desorbent to a hydrogenation zone to hydrogenate benzene to cyclohexane;
- and
- (d) recycling at least a portion of said cyclohexane to the adsorption zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.