Carbenium Pseudo Ionic Liquid Contaminant Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current processes for removing sulfur and nitrogen contaminants from hydrocarbon streams, such as hydrocracking and fluid catalytic cracking, are inefficient and often require high temperatures and pressures, and existing ionic liquid methods can produce excessive extract amounts, limiting commercial application.
Innovation Solution
The use of a lean carbenium pseudo ionic liquid, comprising an organohalide and a metal halide, to selectively remove sulfur and nitrogen contaminants from hydrocarbon streams, with the option to combine with an ionic liquid to improve extract formation and sulfur removal, allowing for phase separation and efficient contaminant removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If catalytic hydrogenation reactions are used to reduce nitrogen content, then nitrogen content is reduced, but high temperature and pressure are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces ionic liquids as an intermediary extraction medium that selectively removes nitrogen-containing compounds from hydrocarbon streams through liquid-liquid extraction, bypassing the need for high-temperature and high-pressure hydrogenation processes while achieving effective nitrogen removal
2Quantity of substance
If conventional ionic liquids are used for sulfur extraction, then sulfur removal is achieved, but excessive extract formation limits commercial application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical structure of ionic liquids by selecting specific cations (imidazolium, pyridinium, phosphonium, ammonium) and anions (halides, tetrafluoroborate, hexafluorophosphate, bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide) to optimize extractive properties, reducing excessive extract formation while maintaining effective sulfur and nitrogen removal capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite ionic liquid systems combining different cation-anion pairs to achieve synergistic effects that enhance contaminant removal efficiency while minimizing unwanted extract formation, making the process more suitable for commercial application
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method effectively reduces sulfur and nitrogen content in hydrocarbon streams by up to 95% and 80% respectively, improving the quality of hydrocarbon products and reducing catalyst deactivation, while operating at lower temperatures and pressures, thus enhancing process efficiency and scalability.
Implementation Method 1
contacting the hydrocarbon stream comprising the contaminant with a lean carbenium pseudo ionic liquid to produce a mixture comprising the hydrocarbon and a rich carbenium pseudo ionic liquid comprising the contaminant
Implementation Method 2
The mixture is separated to produce a hydrocarbon effluent and a rich carbenium pseudo ionic liquid effluent comprising the rich carbenium pseudo ionic liquid comprising the contaminant
Data Source
AI summary
Processes for removing sulfur and nitrogen contaminants from hydrocarbon streams are described. The processes include contacting the hydrocarbon stream comprising the contaminant with lean carbenium pseudo ionic liquid or a combination of carbenium pseudo ionic liquid and ionic liquid to produce a mixture comprising the hydrocarbon and rich carbenium pseudo ionic liquid or carbenium pseudo ionic liquid and ionic liquid comprising the contaminant. The mixture is separated to produce a hydrocarbon effluent and a rich carbenium pseudo ionic liquid or carbenium pseudo ionic liquid and ionic liquid effluent comprising the rich carbenium pseudo ionic liquid or carbenium pseudo ionic liquid and ionic liquid comprising the contaminant.