Chemistry of hydrocarbon compounds – Purification – separation – or recovery – By addition of extraneous agent – e.g. – solvent – etc.
Reexamination Certificate
1995-09-18
2001-10-16
Knode, Marian C. (Department: 1764)
Chemistry of hydrocarbon compounds
Purification, separation, or recovery
By addition of extraneous agent, e.g., solvent, etc.
C585S842000, C208S223000, C208S225000, C208S280000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06303843
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to the processing of an alkylation reactor effluent produced by the catalytic alkylation of olefins by isoparaffins using a hydrogen halide catalyst in a sulfone diluent. More particularly, the invention relates to the removal of sulfone from an alkylation reactor effluent.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A recently discovered novel alkylation catalyst mixture contains a hydrogen halide component in a sulfone diluent. While the components of the alkylation catalyst mixture are substantially immiscible with hydrocarbons, particularly, an alkylate product, the sulfone component is still slightly soluble in hydrocarbon. Consequently, there can be a small concentration of sulfone in an alkylate product produced by the catalytic alkylation of olefins by isoparaffins using as the catalyst a hydrogen halide in a sulfone diluent. The concentration of sulfone in the alkylate product can range upwardly to about 4000 parts per million by weight (ppmw). A high concentration of sulfone in the alkylate product is undesirable because of the use of alkylate as a motor gasoline blending material. The concentration of sulfone in the alkylate should be less than about 100 ppmw.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a method for removing sulfone from an alkylation reactor effluent having an undesirably high concentration of sulfone so as to provide an alkylate product with a low concentration of sulfolane.
Thus, the inventive method provides for the removal of sulfone from a liquid hydrocarbon stream having a concentration of sulfone in the range of from about 150 ppmw to about 4000 ppmw. This method includes mixing within a mixing zone the liquid hydrocarbon stream with liquid hydrogen fluoride to form an admixture of hydrogen fluoride and the liquid hydrocarbon stream. The admixture is passed to a phase separation zone wherein it is separated into at least two liquid phases including a hydrocarbon phase and an acid phase. The hydrocarbon phase has a concentration of sulfone that is less than the concentration of sulfone in the liquid hydrocarbon stream, and the acid phase includes a concentration of sulfone.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3929924 (1975-12-01), Chapman
patent: 3957628 (1976-05-01), Siskin et al.
patent: 4371731 (1983-02-01), Washer
patent: 5220094 (1993-06-01), Eason
patent: 5284993 (1994-02-01), Eastman
Anderson Richard L.
Randolph Bruce B.
Knode Marian C.
Phillips Petroleum Company
Stewart Charles W.
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