Ether Amine Additive Impregnated Catalyst for Hydroprocessing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current hydroprocessing catalysts face challenges in achieving high activity and stability due to the handling difficulties of polar additives with low flash points and the potential for phase separation of hydrocarbon oils and polar additives, which can impact catalyst performance.

Innovation Solution

A hydroprocessing catalyst composition using a support material loaded with a metal precursor and an ether amine compound miscible with n-formylmorpholine, which provides enhanced catalytic activity in hydrodesulfurization and hydrodenitrogenation, and is easier to handle and blend, eliminating the need for special emulsion formation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If polar additives with low flash points are used to enhance catalytic activity, then hydrodesulfurization and hydrodenitrogenation activity is improved, but handling safety deteriorates and special precautions are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecatalytic activityVSAvoidhandling safety
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the additive by using ether amine compounds with higher flash points (above 80°C) instead of traditional polar additives with low flash points. This parameter change maintains catalytic activity while improving handling safety and eliminating the need for special precautions during storage and application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If hydrocarbon oils and polar additives are used together to improve catalytic performance, then activity is enhanced, but phase separation occurs leading to reduced reliability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecatalytic activityVSAvoidcomposition stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves homogeneity by selecting ether amine compounds that are fully miscible with hydrocarbon oils across all proportions. This eliminates phase separation issues and ensures composition stability, while the ether amine compounds maintain the desired catalytic activity for hydrodesulfurization and hydrodenitrogenation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #33Homogeneity

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional impregnation methods are used with low flash point additives, then catalyst preparation is simpler, but safety risks increase requiring special handling procedures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecatalyst preparation simplicityVSAvoidsafety risks
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the flash point parameter of the impregnation additive to above 80°C, which allows standard handling procedures to be used during catalyst preparation without special safety precautions. This maintains ease of manufacture while eliminating safety risks associated with low flash point substances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 composition exhibits improved catalytic activity and stability, with the ether amine compound and n-formylmorpholine combination providing greater enhancement in hydrodesulfurization and hydrodenitrogenation compared to using ether amine alone, and simplifying the handling and impregnation process.

Implementation Method 1

a support material which is alumina, silica, silica-alumina or a mixture thereof which support material is loaded with an active metal precursor and an additive comprising at least 20 vol. % of an ether amine compound wherein said ether amine compound is miscible with n-formylmorpholine

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP2726578B1An ether amine additive impregnated composition useful in the catalytic hydroprocessing of hydrocarbons, a method of making such composition
Publication Date: 2020.04.29 SHELL INTERNATIONALE RESEARCH MAATSCHAPPIJ BV

AI summary

A composition that comprises a support material that is loaded with an active metal or metal precursor, selected from Group 6 and Groups 9 and 10 of the lUPAC Periodic Table of the Elements and an additive that comprises an ether amine compound and, preferably, a morpholine compound as an additional component of the ether amine containing additive. The ether amine containing additive impregnated composition is useful in the hydroprocessing of hydrocarbon feedstocks. The ether amine containing additive impregnated composition is prepared by incorporating a metal solution into a support material followed by incorporating therein the ether amine containing additive.