GB768839A - Improvements in or relating to the hydrofining of hydrocarbons - Google Patents

Abstract

A process for hydrofining simultaneously, in a series of reaction zones, more than one hydrocarbon fraction, comprises passing the first fraction and a hydrogen-containing gas into a first hydrofining zone and passing the hydrogencontaining gas, separated from the condensed hydrofined hydrocarbons to the next reaction zone wherein the succeeding hydrocarbon fraction is hydrofined, the gas obtained being passed in succession through all the zones in series and the gas from the last reaction zone being recycled to the first reaction zone. Before recycling to the first reaction zone the hydrogen-containing gas may be freed from hydrogen sulphide by washing with caustic alkali or by absorption with diethanolamine. The process may be applied to the desulphurization of petroleum fractions e.g. gasolines, white spirit and gas oils and the hydrogenation of cracked petroleum fractions such as heating oils and of petroleum lubricating oils and petroleum waxes. The hydrogenation may be carried out wholly or partly in the vapour phase and in the presence of a catalyst such as cobalt molybdate, or alumina or tungsten or nickel sulphides; fixed bed or fluidized processes may be used. Suitable hydrofining temperatures are 400-800 DEG F. and suitable pressures are 50-500 p.s.i.g.