Process for reducing the total acid number (TAN) of a liquid hydrocarbonaceous feedstock

Abstract

A process for reducing the total acid number (TAN) of a liquid hydrocarbonaceous feedstock, wherein the feedstock is contacted, in the presence of a hydrogen-containing gas and at a temperature in the range of from 200 to 400° C. and at elevated pressure, with a catalyst comprising an oxide of a metal of Column 3 or 4 of the Periodic Table of Elements or of a lanthanide, which catalyst is essentially free of Column 5 to 10 metals or compounds thereof, to obtain a liquid hydrocarbonaceous product with a reduced total acid number.

1 . A process for reducing the total acid number (TAN) of a liquid hydrocarbonaceous feedstock, wherein the feedstock is contacted, in the presence of a hydrogen-containing gas and at a temperature in the range of from 200 to 400° C. and at elevated pressure, with a catalyst comprising an oxide of a metal of Column 3 or 4 of the Periodic Table of Elements or of a lanthanide, which catalyst is essentially free of Column 5 to 10 metals or compounds thereof, to obtain a liquid hydrocarbonaceous product with a reduced total acid number.  
   
   
       2 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the oxide is an oxide of a Column 4 metal or of a lanthanide.  
   
   
       3 . A process according to  claim 2 , wherein the oxide is titanium oxide or zirconium oxide.  
   
   
       4 . A process according to  claim 3 , wherein the catalyst essentially consists of titanium oxide and/or zirconium oxide.  
   
   
       5 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressure is in the range of from 2 to200 bar g.  
   
   
       6 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature is in the range of from 250 to 390° C.  
   
   
       7 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen-containing gas is synthesis gas or hydrogen.  
   
   
       8 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the feedstock has a TAN of at least 0.2 mg KOH/g feedstock.  
   
   
       9 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the feedstock has a TAN of at least 0.5 mg KOH/g feedstock.  
   
   
       10 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the feedstock has a TAN of at least 1 mg KOH/g feedstock.  
   
   
       11 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid hydrocarbonaceous product has a TAN of at most 0.2 mg KOH/g feedstock.  
   
   
       12 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid hydrocarbonaceous product has a TAN of at most 0.1 mg KOH/g feedstock.  
   
   
       13 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid hydrocarbonaceous product has a TAN of at most 0.05 mg KOH/g feedstock.  
   
   
       14 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid hydrocarbonaceous product with a reduced total acid number has a TAN of at most 50% of the TAN of the crude oil product.  
   
   
       15 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid hydrocarbonaceous product with a reduced total acid number has a TAN of at most 30% of the TAN of the crude oil product.  
   
   
       16 . A process according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid hydrocarbonaceous feedstock is crude oil.