US 5,382,731 A · Combined paraffin isomerization/ring opening process

Abstract

There is provided a process for ring opening of aromatics or cycloaliphatics, as well as isomerization of aliphatics. The feedstream to this process comprises hydrocarbons having 6 carbon atoms. The process involves the use of a recycle stream containing a source of chlorine, such as carbon tetrachloride, and this process involves the use of at least two reactors connected in series. The first reactor comprises a ring opening catalyst and is operated under conditions which particularly promote ring opening. The catalyst in this first reactor may comprise zirconia modified with tungstate and platinum. A second, downstream reactor is operated under conditions to promote isomerization of aliphatics. The catalyst in the second reactor may comprise alumina, platinum and a chloride component. The catalysts in both the first and second reactors are chlorine resistant.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A process for ring opening and isomerization of hydrocarbons, said process comprising the steps of:

(a) charging hydrocarbons comprising C.sub.6 cyclic hydrocarbons along with a source of chlorine and hydrogen to a first reaction zone, wherein said hydrocarbons and said source of chlorine and hydrogen are contacted with a ring opening catalyst under conditions sufficient to open cyclic hydrocarbons contained in said hydrocarbons, wherein said catalyst comprises (i) a hydrogenation/dehydrogenation component and (ii) an acidic solid component comprising a Group IVB metal oxide modified with an oxyanion of a Group VIB metal;
and
(b) charging a feedstock comprising the hydrocarbon product from said first reaction zone, a source of chlorine and hydrogen to a second reaction zone, wherein said feedstock is contacted with an isomerization catalyst under conditions sufficient to isomerize paraffins.

A process for ring opening and isomerization of hydrocarbons, said process comprising the steps of:

(a) passing hydrocarbons comprising C.sub.6 cyclic hydrocarbons and a hydrocarbon recycle stream to a fractionation zone;
(b) withdrawing a sidecut comprising C.sub.6 hydrocarbons and a majority of the C.sub.6 cyclic hydrocarbons entering said fractionation zone;
(c) charging said sidecut along with hydrogen and a source of chlorine to a first reaction zone, wherein said sidecut and hydrogen are contacted with a ring opening catalyst under conditions sufficient to open cyclic hydrocarbons contained in the sidecut, wherein said catalyst comprises (i) a hydrogenation/dehydrogenation component and (ii) an acidic solid component comprising a Group IVB metal oxide modified with an oxyanion of a Group VIB metal;
(d) removing hydrogen from the effluent of the first reaction zone under conditions so that the effluent has a hydrogen to hydrocarbon mole ratio of less than 0.05;
(e) recycling hydrogen removed in accordance with step (d) to said first reaction zone;
(f) charging a feedstock comprising a source of chlorine and the effluent from step (d) having a hydrogen to hydrocarbon mole ratio of less than 0.05 to a second reaction zone, wherein said feedstock is contacted with an isomerization catalyst under conditions sufficient to isomerize paraffins;
(g) recovering an effluent from the second reaction zone and returning said effluent from the second reaction zone to said fractionation zone as said hydrocarbon recycle stream;
(h) recovering a second stream from said fractionation zone comprising C.sub.7 hydrocarbons;
and
(i) recovering a third stream from said fractionation zone comprising 2,2-dimethylbutane and lower boiling hydrocarbons.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Combined paraffin isomerization/ring opening process

Life of this patent

Combined paraffin isomerization/ring opening process

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15