TITLE: Low severity upgrading of F-T waxes with solid superacids. Progress report, September 1, 1991--November 30, 1991.

AUTHOR: I. Wender;   J. W. Tierney.

INST.  AUTHOR: Pittsburgh Univ., PA. Dept. of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering.

SPONSOR: Department of Energy, Washington, DC.

LANGUAGE: English

PUB.  TYPE: Technical Report

PUB.  COUNTRY: United States

SOURCE: Department of Energy [DE],  1991,  7p.

NTIS ORDER NO.: DE92009081INW

ABSTRACT:

We have discovered that the isomerization and hydrocracking of a long chain paraffin, n-hexadecane, with a solid superacid such as ZrO(sub 2)/SO(sub 4) gives very high selectivities, (i.e., > 90% to hydrocracked isoparaffins, C(sub 4)-C(sub 13)) in the presence of platinum and a low pressure of hydrogen. Undesirable light gases (methane and ethane) are not produced during these reactions. In addition, a high multi-branched to monobranched ratio of long chain hydrocarbons is produced. We have written the formula for this catalyst as Pt/ZrO(sub 2)/SO(sub 4). Early attempts during this first quarter to reproduce this catalyst for the hydrocracking and isomerization of n-hexadecane gave results which were not reproducible, conversion varying from a few percent to 70%. It was, therefore, of utmost importance to devise a procedure that could be depended upon to synthesize a reproducible catalyst would give high conversions and high selectivities to cracked and isomerized products of high fuel and lubricating oil values. The catalysts should be active under mild conditions, i.e., below 170(degrees)C and hydrogen pressures below 350 psi. Conventional heavy end cracking catalysts (modified zeolites) are active at 300--400(degrees)C.

REPORT  NUMBER: DOE/PC/91304-T1

CONTRACT  NUMBER: FG22-91PC91304