Mild cracking of paraffins

Abstract

A process is disclosed for the mild cracking of C 7 + paraffins using a supported ionic liquid of the formula AB, wherein: A is a cation capable of forming an ionic liquid, and B is an anion containing aluminum and a halogen which is capable of forming an ionic liquid.

1 . A process comprising:
 contacting a hydrocarbon feed stream comprising C 7 + paraffins having at least seven carbon atoms per molecule with a composition comprising an ionic liquid supported on silica thereby producing a product stream comprising light paraffins having in the range of from four to six carbon atoms per molecule; wherein said ionic liquid has the formula: AB, wherein:   A is a cation capable of forming an ionic liquid, and   B is an anion containing aluminum and a halogen which is capable of forming an ionic liquid.   
   
   
       2 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein:
 A is (CH 3 ) 3 NH + , and   B is an anion selected from the group consisting of Al 2 Cl 7   − , AlCl 4   − , Al 3 CL 10   − , and combinations thereof.   
   
   
       3 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said silica is non-crystalline. 
   
   
       4 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said ionic liquid is present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 50 wt. % to about 90 wt. %. 
   
   
       5 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said ionic liquid is present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 60 wt. % to about 90 wt. %. 
   
   
       6 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said ionic liquid is present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 70 wt. % to about 85 wt. %. 
   
   
       7 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said silica is present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 10 wt. % to about 50 wt. %. 
   
   
       8 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said silica is present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 10 wt. % to about 40 wt. %. 
   
   
       9 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said silica is present in said composition in an amount in the range of from about 15 wt. % to about 30 wt. %. 
   
   
       10 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said C 7 + paraffins are present in said hydrocarbon feed stream in an amount in excess of about 50 weight %. 
   
   
       11 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said C 7 + paraffins are present in said hydrocarbon feed stream in an amount in excess of about 70 weight %. 
   
   
       12 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said C 7 + paraffins are present in said hydrocarbon feed stream in an amount in excess of about 90 weight %. 
   
   
       13 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said hydrocarbon feed stream is contacted with said composition at a temperature in the range of from about 50° C. to about 100° C., a pressure in the range of from about 25 psig to about 650 psig, and at a liquid hourly space velocity of about 0.1 hr. −1  to about 3 hr. −1 . 
   
   
       14 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said hydrocarbon feed stream is contacted with said composition at a temperature in the range of from about 60° C. to about 100° C., a pressure in the range of from about 100 psig to about 550 psig, and at a liquid hourly space velocity of about 0.2 hr. −1  to about 2 hr. −1 . 
   
   
       15 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said hydrocarbon feed stream is contacted with said composition at a temperature in the range of from about 70° C. to about 95° C., a pressure in the range of from about 150 psig to about 300 psig, and at a liquid hourly space velocity of about 0.25 hr. −1  to about 1 hr. −1 . 
   
   
       16 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said light paraffins of said product stream contain isobutane. 
   
   
       17 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said light paraffins of said product stream contain isobutane, isopentane, and hexane isomers. 
   
   
       18 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein at least about 10% by weight of said C 7 + paraffins are converted to said light paraffins. 
   
   
       19 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein at least about 15% by weight of said C 7 + paraffins are converted to said light paraffins. 
   
   
       20 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein at least about 20% by weight of said C 7 + paraffins are converted to said light paraffins. 
   
   
       21 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said light paraffins of said product stream contain at least about 40 weight % isoparaffins having from three to six carbon atoms per molecule. 
   
   
       22 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said light paraffins of said product stream contain at least about 70 weight % isoparaffins having from three to six carbon atoms per molecule.