Separating basic asphaltenes using metal oxide acid catalysts.

摘要

Basic asphaltenes are selectively removed from asphaltene-containing hydrocarbon feeds (10) by contacting the feed with a transition metal oxide solid acid catalyst which selectively adsorbs the basic asphaltenes (12) to produce an asphaltene reduced feed (14). The catalyst comprises a catalytic metal component selected from oxides of (a) tungsten, niobium, and mixtures thereof and (b) mixtures of (a) with tantalum, hafnium, chromium, titanium, zirconium and mixtures thereof, supported on an inorganic refractory oxide support such as alumina. Asphalt-laden catalyst is separated from the feed (16). the asphaltenes adsorbed thereon are cracked off (18) in the presence of steam (21) and the catalyst (22) is regenerated (24) and recycled (30) back to the adsorption zone (12).