EP0252606A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Process for increasing the cetane number of diesel fuels
Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Co
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Filing: 1987-06-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-06-05
Abstract
Abstract The cetane number of a middle distillate fuel fraction is increased by contacting said fraction with oxygen or oxidant, in the presence of a catalyst, for a time sufficient to increase the cetane number. The catalyst selectively oxidizes benzylic carbon atoms present in the fuel to ketones. The fuel is preferably hydrorefined before being selectively oxidized.
Inventors
- 👤 Darrell William Brownawell
- 👤 Martin Leo Gorbaty
- 👤 Ronald Liotta
- 👤 William Francis Taylor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 08:07
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10L; C10L1/00; C10L1/02; C10L1/026; C10G; C10G27/00; C10G27/04; C10G53/00; C10G53/02; C10G53/14; C10G67/00; C10G67/02; C10G67/14; F; F02; F02B; F02B3/00; F02B3/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
64 words
A process for increasing the cetane number of a middle distillate fuel fraction which contains aromatic and hydroaromatic hydrocarbon compounds having benzylic carbon atoms which comprises contacting said fraction with oxygen or an oxidant at a temperature below about 200°C in the presence of a catalyst for a time sufficient to selectively oxidize at least a portion of said benzylic carbon atoms to ketones.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
64 words
A process for increasing the cetane number of a middle distillate fuel fraction which contains aromatic and hydroaromatic hydrocarbon compounds having benzylic carbon atoms which comprises contacting said fraction with oxygen or an oxidant at a temperature below about 200°C in the presence of a catalyst for a time sufficient to selectively oxidize at least a portion of said benzylic carbon atoms to ketones.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process as in claim 1 comprising the step of recovering a middle distillate fuel fraction of increased cetane number.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process as in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the middle distillate fuel fraction of increased cetane number is blended with another middle distillate fuel fraction whose cetane number has not been increased.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The process of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said catalyst comprises at least one non-oxide compound of one or more catalytic metals selected from tin, antimony, lead, bismuth and transition metals of Group IB, IIB, VB, VIB, VIIB and VIIIB of the Periodic Table.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said fraction is a hydrorefined fraction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of any one of claims 1 to 5 in which the catalyst is a soluble catalyst.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said catalyst is an oil-soluble metal salt.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 7 wherein said oil-soluble metal salt is cobalt naphthenate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said catalyst is water-soluble.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
129 words
A process as in any one of claims 1 to 9 which comprises the steps of: (a) extracting at least a portion of the aromatic and hydroaromatic hydrocarbon compounds present in said, fraction to form an extract rich in said aromatic and hydroaromatic hydrocarbon compounds and a raffinate reduced in aromatic and hydroaromatic hydrocarbon compounds; (b) contacting said extract formed in step (a) with oxygen or an oxidant in the presence of a catalyst at a temperature below about 200°C for a time sufficient to selectively oxidize at least a portion of the benzylic compounds in said extract to increase the cetane number thereof, and (c) blending at least a portion of the oxidized extract formed in (b) with a middle distillate fuel fraction to increase its cetane number.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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