Process for the selective hydrogenation and isomerization of hydrocarbons

摘要

A process for the selective hydrogenation and simultaneous isomerization of hydrocarbons in a feed stream (12) containing a mixture of hydrocarbons of varying degrees of unsaturation and having 4 or more carbon atoms. The process comprises contacting the mixture with hydrogen gas under hydrogenating and isomerizing conditions in the presence of a suitable catalyst (2, 3, and 4) in a multistage packed bed catalytic reactor (1). The process comprises supplying the hydrogen gas (20) in increasing molar ratio amounts relative to the remaining unreacted diolefin concentration in at least three points (24, 26 and 28) spaced apart along the flow direction of the feed stream through the reactor.