Selective upgrading of naphtha
AssigneeUop LLC
InventorsRobert J. Schmidt, Paula L. Bogdan, R. Joe Lawson, J. W. Adriaan Sachtler
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Abstract
A process combination is disclosed to selectively upgrade catalytically cracked gasoline to obtain products suitable for further upgrading to reformulated fuels. A naphtha feedstock, preferably heavy naphtha, is hydrogenated to saturate aromatics, followed by selective isoparaffin synthesis to yield light and heavy synthesis naphtha and isobutane. The heavy synthesis naphtha may be processed by reforming, light naphtha may be isomerized, and isobutane may be upgraded by dehydrogenation, etherification and/or alkylation to yield gasoline components from the process combination suitable for production of reformulated gasoline.
Claims19
A process combination for selectively upgrading a catalytically cracked gasoline feedstock having a final boiling point of from about 160.degree. to 230.degree. C. to obtain lower-boiling hydrocarbons comprising superequilibrium isobutane, comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting the gasoline feedstock in a hydrogenation zone with a hydrogenation catalyst in the presence of hydrogen at a pressure of from about 10 to 100 atmospheres, a temperature of at least 30.degree. C. and a liquid hourly space velocity of from about 1 to 8 to produce a saturated intermediate;
- and,
- (b) converting the saturated intermediate in a selective-isoparaffin-synthesis zone maintained at a pressure of from about 10 to 100 atmospheres, a temperature of between about 50.degree. C. and 350.degree. C. and a liquid hourly space velocity of between about 0.5 and 20 with a solid acid selective isoparaffin-synthesis catalyst in the presence of hydrogen and recovering synthesis product containing at least 8 volume % butanes and having a reduced final boiling point relative to the gasoline feedstock.
A process combination for selectively upgrading a catalytically cracked gasoline feedstock having a final boiling point of from about 160.degree. to 230.degree. C. to obtain lower-boiling hydrocarbons comprising superequilibrium isobutane, comprising the steps of:
- (a) separating the gasoline feedstock to obtain a heart-cut naphtha fraction comprising C.sub.7 and C.sub.8 hydrocarbons and a heavy naphtha fraction comprising C.sub.10 hydrocarbons;
- (b) contacting the heavy naphtha fraction in a hydrogenation zone with a hydrogenation catalyst in the presence of hydrogen at a pressure of from about 10 to 100 atmospheres, a temperature of at least 30.degree. C. and a liquid hourly space velocity of from about 1 to 8 to produce a saturated intermediate;
- and,
- (c) converting the saturated intermediate in a selective-isoparaffin-synthesis zone maintained at a pressure of from about 10 to 100 atmospheres, a temperature of between about 50.degree. C. and 350.degree. C. and a liquid hourly space velocity of between about 0.5 and 20 with a solid acid selective isoparaffin-synthesis catalyst in the presence of hydrogen and recovering a synthesis product containing at least 8 volume % butanes and having a reduced final boiling point relative to the gasoline feedstock.
A process combination for selectively upgrading a contaminated catalytically cracked gasoline feedstock having a final boiling point of from about 160.degree. to 230.degree. C. to obtain lower-boiling hydrocarbons comprising superequilibrium isobutane, comprising the steps of:
- (a) hydrotreating the gasoline feedstock to convert sulfurous and nitrogenous compounds and obtain a naphtha feedstock;
- (b) separating the naphtha feedstock to obtain a heart-cut naphtha fraction comprising C.sub.7 and C.sub.8 hydrocarbons and a heavy naphtha fraction comprising C.sub.10 hydrocarbons;
- (c) contacting the heart-cut naphtha fraction with a reforming catalyst, comprising a supported platinum-group metal component, in a catalytic-reforming zone maintained at a pressure of from about atmospheric to 20 atmospheres, a temperature of from 260.degree. to 560.degree. C. and a liquid hourly space velocity of from about 1 to 40 and recovering a stabilized reformate;
- (d) contacting the heavy naphtha fraction in a hydrogenation zone with a hydrogenation catalyst in the presence of hydrogen at a pressure of from about 10 to 100 atmospheres, a temperature of at least 30.degree. C. and a liquid hourly space velocity of from about 1 to 8 to produce a saturated intermediate;
- (e) converting the saturated intermediate in a selective-isoparaffin-synthesis zone maintained at a pressure of from about 10 to 100 atmospheres, a temperature of between about 50.degree. and 350.degree. C. and a liquid hourly space velocity of between about 0.5 and 20 with a solid acid selective isoparaffin-synthesis catalyst in the presence of hydrogen and recovering a synthesis product containing at least 8 volume % butanes and having a reduced final boiling point relative to the gasoline feedstock.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.