Patent · US Expired

Sodium tetrachloroaluminate catalyzed process for the molecular weight reduction of liquid hydrocarbons

US4504378A · kind A · utility

1Cited by
80References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 18, 1983
Grant dateMar 12, 1985
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 18, 2003

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC10G9/34
  • WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A process for reducing the molecular weight of hydrocarbons using NaAlCl.sub.4 is provided wherein the hydrogen to carbon ratio of the product slate is approximately the same as the feed material, comprising contacting the feed material with a molten salt of NaAlCl.sub.4 having a ratio of aluminum chloride to sodium chloride of at least 1:1, preferably at a temperature of at least 660.degree. F., and at a pressure above atmospheric, preferably from about 50 psia to about 2000 psia, depending upon the product slate desired. According to the present invention, heavy hydrocarbons are converted to a liquid product slate wherein substantially all of the liquid components exhibit a molecular weight lower than the molecular weight range exhibited by the hydrocarbon feedstock.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.