Copper Chloride Catalyst for Alkali-Free Mercaptan Purification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current catalysts for purifying oil fractions from mercaptans are expensive due to the high cost and limited availability of transitional metal compounds, and they often require a strongly alkaline medium, leading to equipment corrosion and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A catalyst composed of copper chloride-based metal complexes with aminoalcohols and acetonitrile or single-atom alcohols, eliminating the need for a mineral carrier and operating in an alkali-free environment, with a specific formula (CuIICl)2O(L1)2−4(L2)1−4, where L1 is an aminoalcohol and L2 is acetonitrile or a single-atom alcohol, synthesized at controlled temperatures and pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If phatocyanites or other transitional metal compounds are used as catalysts, then mercaptan purification efficiency is improved, but catalyst cost and availability issues worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, scarce transitional metal compounds (phatocyanites) with cheaper, more readily available copper-based catalysts supported on mineral carriers. The copper catalyst system achieves comparable purification efficiency while dramatically reducing catalyst cost and improving availability, embodying the principle of substituting expensive materials with cheaper alternatives that deliver equivalent performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the catalyst composition parameters by using copper salts (copper sulfate, copper chloride) combined with specific ligands (aminoalcohols, amines, aminoacids) supported on mineral carriers. This parameter change from rare transitional metals to abundant copper-based systems maintains catalytic activity while reducing cost, directly addressing the contradiction between purification efficiency and catalyst availability.
2Productivity
If strongly alkaline medium is used for mercaptan extraction, then purification effectiveness is improved, but equipment corrosion worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameter from strongly alkaline medium to neutral or weakly alkaline conditions by using copper-based catalysts that function effectively at lower pH values. This parameter change maintains sufficient purification effectiveness while dramatically reducing equipment corrosion, resolving the contradiction between purification performance and equipment durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the previously harmful strongly alkaline environment into a beneficial mild alkaline or neutral environment where copper-based catalysts exhibit optimal activity. By operating at lower pH, the system eliminates corrosion problems while maintaining purification effectiveness, turning the previous harmful condition into a beneficial operational parameter.
3Stability of the object's composition
If mineral carrier is used in heterogeneous catalyst, then catalyst stability is improved, but catalyst consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copper-based active phases locally on mineral carrier surfaces with optimized dispersion and loading. By concentrating the active copper species at specific locations on the carrier surface rather than using bulk materials, the system achieves high stability with lower overall catalyst consumption, resolving the contradiction between stability and substance loss.
4Productivity
If complex catalyst composition is used, then purification performance is improved, but manufacturing complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates composite catalyst materials by combining copper salts with organic ligands (aminoalcohols, amines, aminoacids) on mineral carriers. This composite structure achieves high purification performance through synergistic interactions between components while using readily available materials that simplify manufacturing compared to synthesizing complex phatocyanite compounds.
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
The catalyst effectively oxidizes mercaptans and hydrogen sulfide at moderate temperatures and pressures, reducing sulfur content in oil fractions while avoiding equipment corrosion and lowering production costs.
Implementation Method 1
The catalyst effectively oxidizes mercaptans and hydrogen sulfide at moderate temperatures and pressures, reducing sulfur content in oil fractions
Implementation Method 2
A catalyst composed of copper chloride-based metal complexes with aminoalcohols and acetonitrile or single-atom alcohols, eliminating the need for a mineral carrier and operating in an alkali-free environment
Data Source
AI summary
A catalyst for alkali-free purification of oil raw materials includes a solid metalocomplex or a liquid metalocomplex with a general formula (CuMCl)20(Li)2^(L2)i^, where Li is amino alcohol, L2 is acetonitryl or single atom alcohol.