SIMULTANEOUS METAL, SULFUR AND NITROGEN REMOVAL USING SUPERCRITICAL WATER
First Claim
1. A process for removing metals, sulfur and nitrogen in the upgrading of hydrocarbons comprising:
- (a) mixing hydrocarbons containing metals, sulfur and nitrogen with a fluid comprising water that has been heated to a temperature higher than its critical temperature in a mixing zone to form a mixture;
(b) passing the mixture to a reaction zone;
(c) reacting the mixture in the reaction zone under supercritical water conditions in the absence of externally added hydrogen for a residence time sufficient to allow upgrading reactions to occur while maintaining an effective amount of metals, derived from the hydrocarbon undergoing upgrading, in the reaction zone to catalyze the upgrading reactions; and
(d) recovering upgraded hydrocarbons having a lower concentration of metals, sulfur and nitrogen than the hydrocarbons of step (a).
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Abstract
A process for removing metals, sulfur and nitrogen in the upgrading of hydrocarbons comprising: mixing hydrocarbons containing metals, sulfur and nitrogen with a fluid comprising water that has been heated to a temperature higher than its critical temperature in a mixing zone to form a mixture; passing the mixture to a reaction zone; reacting the mixture in the reaction zone under supercritical water conditions in the absence of externally added hydrogen for a residence time sufficient to allow upgrading reactions to occur while maintaining an effective amount of metals, derived from the hydrocarbon undergoing upgrading, in the reaction zone to catalyze the upgrading reactions; and recovering upgraded hydrocarbons having a lower concentration of metals, sulfur and nitrogen than the hydrocarbons before reaction is disclosed.
51 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A process for removing metals, sulfur and nitrogen in the upgrading of hydrocarbons comprising:
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(a) mixing hydrocarbons containing metals, sulfur and nitrogen with a fluid comprising water that has been heated to a temperature higher than its critical temperature in a mixing zone to form a mixture; (b) passing the mixture to a reaction zone; (c) reacting the mixture in the reaction zone under supercritical water conditions in the absence of externally added hydrogen for a residence time sufficient to allow upgrading reactions to occur while maintaining an effective amount of metals, derived from the hydrocarbon undergoing upgrading, in the reaction zone to catalyze the upgrading reactions; and (d) recovering upgraded hydrocarbons having a lower concentration of metals, sulfur and nitrogen than the hydrocarbons of step (a). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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11. A process for removing metals and sulfur in the upgrading of hydrocarbons comprising:
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(a) mixing hydrocarbons containing metals and sulfur with a fluid comprising water having a temperature higher than the critical temperature of water in a mixing zone to form a mixture having a temperature higher than the critical temperature of water; (b) passing the mixture to a reaction zone; (c) reacting the mixture in the reaction zone under supercritical water conditions in the absence of externally added hydrogen for a residence time sufficient to allow upgrading reactions including demetalation and desulfurization to occur while maintaining an effective amount of metals, derived from the hydrocarbon undergoing upgrading, in the reaction zone to catalyze desulfurization reactions; and (d) recovering upgraded hydrocarbons having a lower concentration of metals and sulfur than the hydrocarbons of step (a) - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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20. A process for removing metals and sulfur in the upgrading of hydrocarbons comprising:
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(a) mixing hydrocarbons containing metals and sulfur with a fluid comprising water that has been heated to a temperature higher than its critical temperature in a mixing zone to form a mixture; (b) passing the mixture to a reaction zone; (c) reacting the mixture in the reaction zone under supercritical water conditions in the absence of externally added hydrogen for a residence time sufficient to allow upgrading reactions including demetalation and desulfurization to occur while maintaining an effective amount of metals, derived from the hydrocarbon undergoing upgrading, in the reaction zone to catalyze desulfurization reactions; (d) separating a dreg stream containing metals from the reaction product; (e) passing at least a portion of the dreg stream to the reaction zone; and (g) recovering upgraded hydrocarbons having a lower concentration of metals and sulfur than the hydrocarbons of step (a).
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Specification