Hydrocarbon Feed Treatment with Supported Ionic Liquid Adsorbent
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydrotreating processes for reducing sulfur and nitrogen compounds in hydrocarbon feeds require harsh conditions, leading to undesired hydrocracking and high hydrogen consumption, and existing methods struggle to effectively remove recalcitrant species like 4,6-dimethyl dibenzothiophene and carbazole.
Innovation Solution
A process involving an adsorbent with an organic heterocyclic salt deposited on a porous support is used to contact the hydrocarbon feed, selectively adsorbing and removing nitrogen and sulfur compounds, thereby reducing their levels and enhancing the sulfur removal capacity without the need for extreme conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If harsh hydrotreating conditions are used to reduce sulfur content to less than 1 ppm, then sulfur removal efficiency is improved, but hydrocracking of diesel and jet fuel increases and hydrogen consumption becomes excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by removing nitrogen compounds from the hydrocarbon feed before the main hydrotreating process. This pre-treatment step reduces the nitrogen load on subsequent catalysts, preventing catalyst deactivation and allowing milder hydrotreating conditions that reduce hydrogen consumption while maintaining effective sulfur removal to less than 1 ppm.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the hydrotreating process into distinct stages: first removing nitrogen compounds in a preliminary step, then performing sulfur removal in a subsequent hydrotreating stage. This segmentation allows each process to be optimized independently, preventing the need for excessively harsh conditions that would cause unwanted hydrocracking and high hydrogen consumption.
2Manufacturing precision
If harsh hydrotreating conditions are applied to remove recalcitrant sulfur species, then sulfur removal capacity is improved, but undesired hydrocracking to C1-C4 gas and naphthene products increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by removing nitrogen compounds from the hydrocarbon feed before the main hydrotreating process. This pre-treatment step reduces the nitrogen load on subsequent catalysts, preventing catalyst deactivation and allowing milder hydrotreating conditions that reduce sulfur to less than 1 ppm without causing excessive unwanted hydrocracking to C1-C4 gas and naphthene products.
3Manufacturing precision
If nitrogen compounds are removed first to increase sulfur removal capacity, then sulfur adsorption efficiency is improved, but additional process steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the nitrogen removal function into the existing hydrotreating process by using a hydrotreating catalyst that performs both nitrogen compound removal and sulfur compound removal. This integration eliminates the need for separate process units while achieving the benefit of reduced nitrogen interference with sulfur adsorption, thereby improving sulfur adsorption efficiency without significantly increasing process complexity.
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 approach effectively reduces nitrogen and sulfur compounds by at least 10% to less than 1 ppm, maintaining the quality of hydrocarbon products and reducing hydrogen consumption, while allowing for milder downstream processing conditions and extended catalyst life.
Implementation Method 1
contacting the feed with an adsorbent including an organic heterocyclic salt deposited on a porous support, resulting in a product containing a reduced amount of nitrogen and sulfur
Data Source
AI summary
A method is disclosed for removing impurities such as nitrogen and/or sulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon feed, in which the feed is contacted with an adsorbent including a nitrogen-containing organic heterocyclic salt deposited on a porous support, e.g., a supported ionic liquid. Additionally, a method for hydrotreating a hydrocarbon feed which includes a hydroprocessing step is disclosed, wherein prior to hydroprocessing, the feed is contacted with an adsorbent including a supported ionic liquid. Additionally, a method for producing a lube oil which includes isomerization dewaxing of a base oil fraction is disclosed, wherein prior to the isomerization dewaxing step, the base oil fraction is contacted with an adsorbent including a supported ionic liquid. In one embodiment, the adsorbent is regenerated to restore its treatment capacity.