Normal Paraffin Production via Epoxidation and Deoxygenation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing normal paraffins from unsaturated feeds, such as vegetable and animal oils, often require severe cracking conditions to convert C17 and C18 paraffins into the desired C9 to C15 range, resulting in excessive production of low-octane naphtha and degrading the yield of desired paraffins.
Innovation Solution
The method involves epoxidizing unsaturated feeds with alkenyl groups to form epoxide compounds, which are then converted to hydroxyl-functional compounds and subsequently deoxygenated to produce normal paraffins, avoiding severe cracking conditions and minimizing the production of low-octane naphtha.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If severe cracking conditions are applied to convert C17 and C18 normal paraffins into C9 to C15 normal paraffins, then the desired carbon chain length range is achieved, but excessive amounts of low-octane naphtha (C4 to C8 normal paraffins) are produced, degrading the potential yield
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the feedstock by using epoxidized and hydroxyl-functionalized compounds instead of directly cracking normal paraffins. This parameter change allows deoxygenation to produce C9 to C15 normal paraffins directly without requiring severe cracking conditions, thereby avoiding over-cracking to low-octane naphtha while achieving the desired carbon chain length distribution
Solution Approach 2:
The invention performs preliminary chemical modifications (epoxidation and hydroxyl functionalization) on the unsaturated feed before deoxygenation. This preliminary action creates compounds that, upon deoxygenation, directly yield C9 to C15 normal paraffins in the desired range, eliminating the need for subsequent severe cracking operations that would cause over-cracking and loss of desired product
2Productivity
If hydrogenation/deoxygenation processes are used on vegetable and animal oils, then normal paraffins are produced, but the carbon chain length is limited to diesel range (C17 and C18), requiring additional cracking
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical structure parameters of the feedstock by selecting unsaturated compounds with specific carbon chain lengths (corresponding to C9 to C15 after deoxygenation) and applying epoxidation and hydroxyl functionalization. This parameter change enables direct production of jet fuel-range normal paraffins in a single deoxygenation step, avoiding the need for additional cracking processes and reducing overall process complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention performs preliminary selection and chemical modification of the feedstock to ensure that deoxygenation directly produces the desired carbon chain length range. By choosing appropriate unsaturated compounds and applying epoxidation/hydroxyl functionalization beforehand, the process eliminates the need for subsequent cracking operations, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining high productivity
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 yields a wider range of normal paraffins, including those with 9 to 15 carbon atoms, reducing the need for severe cracking and minimizing the production of low-octane naphtha, while enabling the production of renewable jet fuel and linear alkyl benzene.
Implementation Method 1
The unsaturated feed is epoxidized to convert the at least one alkenyl group in the unsaturated compound to an epoxide functional group
Implementation Method 2
The at least one epoxide functional group in the epoxide compound is converted to at least one secondary hydroxyl functional group
Implementation Method 3
The hydroxyl-functional compound is deoxygenated to form normal paraffins
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatuses for preparing normal paraffins and hydrocarbon product streams are provided herein. A method of preparing normal paraffins includes providing an unsaturated feed that includes an unsaturated compound that has at least one alkenyl group. The unsaturated feed is epoxidized to convert the at least one alkenyl group in the unsaturated compound to an epoxide functional group, thereby converting the unsaturated compound to an epoxide compound that has at least one epoxide functional group. The at least one epoxide functional group in the epoxide compound is converted to at least one secondary hydroxyl functional group, thereby converting the epoxide compound to a hydroxyl-functional compound that has at least one hydroxyl functional group. The hydroxyl-functional compound is deoxygenated to form normal paraffins.