Nitrogen removal from light hydrocarbon feed in olefin isomerization and etherication process
AssigneeUop LLC
InventorsHayim Abrevaya, Suleyman M. Ozmen, Paul T. Barger, Christopher D. Gosling, Thomas A. Verachtert
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Abstract
An improved process is disclosed for the removal of nitrogen compounds from light hydrocarbon streams. Such nitrogen removal enhances the performance of catalytic processes which upgrade light hydrocarbons, especially light olefins, such as isomerization and etherification. The nitrogen-removal process can usefully be combined with steps for removal of sulfur compounds and highly unsaturated compounds in a process combination for upgrading the light hydrocarbons.
Claims14
A process for the isomerization of olefins contained in a nitrile contaminated light hydrocarbon feed stream comprising the steps of:
- (a) reducing the content of a nitrile contaminant in the nitrile contaminated feed stream by at least 90% in a nitrogen-removal zone by hydrolyzing the nitrile contaminant at hydrolysis conditions in the presence of an alkaline solution and recovering a nitrile depleted hydrocarbon stream;
- and,
- (b) contacting the nitrile depleted hydrocarbon stream in an isomerization zone at isomerization conditions with a catalyst containing at least one medium-pore molecular sieve to provide an isomerization product containing at least one branched-chain olefin isomer in greater concentration than in the feedstock.
A process for the isomerization and etherification of olefins contained in a nitrile-contaminated light hydrocarbon feed stream comprising the steps of:
- (a) reducing the content of a nitrile contaminant in the nitrile-contaminated feed stream by at least 90% in a nitrile-removal zone by hydrolyzing the nitrile contaminant at hydrolysis conditions in the presence of an alkaline solution and recovering a nitrile depleted hydrocarbon stream;
- (b) contacting the nitrile depleted hydrocarbon stream with an alcohol in an etherification zone at etherification conditions to obtain an ether product and a hydrocarbon raffinate:
- and,
- (c) contacting the hydrocarbon raffinate in an isomerization zone at isomerization conditions with a catalyst containing at least one medium-pore molecular sieve to provide an isomerization product containing at least one branched chain olefin isomer in greater concentration than in the feedstock.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.