Catalysts and processes for selective hydrogenation of acetylene and dienes in light olefin feedstreams

• US 20060166816A1
• Filed: 06/20/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Catalyst Health Solutions Incorporated (UnitedHealth Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Catalyst Health Solutions Incorporated (UnitedHealth Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Golden, Stephen J., Zhang, Yongqing
• Application Number:
  US11/156,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20060166816A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 502/240
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 21/08 Silica
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 23/44 Palladium
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 23/50 Silver
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 23/58 with alkali- or alkaline earth metals
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 23/63 with rare earths or actinides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 23/66 Silver or gold
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 23/89 combined with noble metals
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 23/8913 Cobalt and noble metals
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 23/894 with rare earths or actinides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 23/8946 with alkali or alkaline earth metals
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 23/90 Regeneration or reactivation
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 27/12 Fluorides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 37/0009 Use of binding agents; Moulding; Pressing; Powdering; Granulating; Addition of materials ameliorating the mechanical properties of the product catalyst
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 37/0201 Impregnation
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 37/0203 the impregnation liquid containing organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 37/0205 in several steps
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 11/02 Alkenes
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 2523/63 with rare earths or actinides
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 2523/66 Silver or gold
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 2523/83 with rare earths or actinides
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 7/163 : by hydrogenation
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 7/167 : for removal of compounds containing a triple carbon-to-carbon bond
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2400/20 : C2-C4 olefins
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2400/22 : Higher olefins
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/584 : Recycling of catalysts

Abstract

A catalyst and a method for selective hydrogenation of acetylene and dienes in light olefin feedstreams are provided. The catalyst retains higher activity and selectivity after regeneration than conventional selective hydrogenation catalysts. The catalyst contains a first component and a second component supported on an inorganic support. The inorganic support contains at least one salt or oxide of zirconium, a lanthanide, or an alkaline earth.

Claims

1. A catalyst for selective hydrogenation of acetylene and dienes in a light olefin feedstream, comprising:

a first component selected from the group consisting of copper, gold, silver, and mixtures thereof;

a second component selected from the group consisting of nickel, platinum, palladium, iron, cobalt, ruthenium, rhodium, and mixtures thereof;

an inorganic support; and

at least one inorganic salt or oxide selected from the group consisting of zirconium, a lanthanide, an alkaline earth, and mixtures thereof.

2. The catalyst of claim 1, wherein said at least one inorganic salt or oxide is added to the support by impregnation, kneading, or milling.

3. The catalyst of claim 1, wherein the inorganic salt or oxide, the first component, the second component, and the support may be added in any order.

4. The catalyst of claim 1, wherein said catalyst comprises at least one fluorite.

5. The catalyst of claim 4, wherein said fluorite is formed after calcination, use, or regeneration of said catalyst.

6. The catalyst of claim 1, wherein said first component comprises palladium and said second component comprises silver.

7. The catalyst of claim 1, wherein said inorganic salt is selected from the group consisting of nitrates, acetates, chlorides, carbonates, and mixtures thereof.

8. The catalyst of claim 1, wherein a weight percent of said inorganic salt or oxide is in the range of approximately 0.01% to approximately 50% by weight.

9. The catalyst of claim 1, wherein said catalyst is a multi-phase catalyst.

10. The catalyst of claim 9, wherein said catalyst is prepared with a water solution of at least two water-soluble salts selected from the group consisting of copper, gold, silver, nickel, platinum, palladium, iron, cobalt, ruthenium, rhodium, zirconium, a lanthanide, an alkaline earth, and mixtures thereof.

11. A process for selectively hydrogenating acetylene and dienes in a light olefin feedstream, comprising contacting said feedstream with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst comprising a first component selected from the group consisting of copper, gold, silver and mixtures thereof, a second component selected from the group consisting of nickel, platinum, palladium, iron, cobalt, ruthenium, rhodium, and mixtures thereof, an inorganic support, and at least one inorganic salt or oxide selected from the group consisting of zirconium, a lanthanide, and an alkaline earth.

12. The process of claim 11, wherein said light olefin feedstream comprises at least one olefin having a carbon number between C₂ through C_6.

13. The process of claim 11, wherein said light olefin feedstream comprises at least one olefin selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene, butylene, pentene, and hexene.

14. The process of claim 11, wherein said contacting is at a temperature between approximately 0°

C. and approximately 250 C.

15. The process of claim 11, wherein said contacting is at a pressure of approximately 0.01 bar to approximately 50 bar.

16. The process of claim 11, wherein said catalyst comprises at least one fluorite.

17. The process of claim 11, wherein said catalyst is a multi-phase catalyst.

18. The process of claim 11, wherein said first component comprises silver and said second component comprises palladium.

19. The process of claim 11, wherein said light olefin feedstream is an ethylene feedstream.

20. A method of preparing a multi-phase catalyst for selective hydrogenation of acetylene and diene in a light olefin feedstream, comprising:

forming a single aqueous solution of at least two water-soluble salts selected from the group consisting of copper, gold, silver, nickel, platinum, palladium, iron, cobalt, ruthenium, rhodium zirconium, a lanthanide, an alkaline earth, and mixtures thereof;

contacting said single aqueous solution with an inorganic support selected from the group consisting of silica and alumina; and

calcining said inorganic support and said single aqueous solution under a condition to form said multi-phase catalyst, wherein said multi-phase catalyst comprises at least one inorganic salt or oxide selected from the group consisting of zirconium, a lanthanide, and an alkaline earth.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising removing the water from said single aqueous solution before calcining.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein removing the water comprises drying said single aqueous solution.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said inorganic support is silica or alumina.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein said at least two water-soluble salts are salts selected from the group consisting of nitrates, acetates, oxalates, hydroxides, and carbonates.