Selective ring opening by oxidation process

Abstract

This invention relates to the selective ring opening of naphthenic and aromatic rings, and more particularly, to any petroleum or hydrocarbon streams derived from crudes containing naphthene and aromatic species. The rings may be selectively ring opened using an oxidation catalyst in the presence of an oxygen

1 . A method for selectively ring opening naphthenes or aromatics in a petroleum feed containing naphthenic or aromatic ring species which comprises: combining the petroleum feed with a catalytically effective amount of an oil soluble metal catalyst to form a mixture of feed and catalyst, and adding to the mixture of feed and catalyst an oxygen-containing gas under ring opening conditions.  
   
   
       2 . A method for selectively ring opening naphthenes or aromatics in a petroleum feed containing naphthenic or aromatic ring species which comprises: (a) contacting the feed with an oxygen-containing gas, (b) adding to the feed contacted with oxygen-containing gas a catalytically effective amount of an oil soluble catalyst and (c) continuing adding oxygen-containing gas under ring opening conditions.  
   
   
       3 . An upgrading process for upgrading a petroleum feed which comprises: contacting the feed in an upgrading process incorporating selective ring opening, said upgrading including at least one of hydrocracking, hydrotreating, hydrodewaxing, solvent dewaxing, solvent extracting and hydrofinishing, wherein selective ring opening is by (a) combining the petroleum feed with a catalytically effective amount of an oil soluble metal catalyst to form a mixture of feed and catalyst, and adding to the mixture of feed and catalyst an oxygen-containing gas under ring opening conditions or (b) contacting the feed with an oxygen-containing gas, adding to the feed contacted with oxygen-containing gas a catalytically effective amount of an oil soluble catalyst and continuing adding oxygen-containing gas under ring opening conditions.  
   
   
       4 . The process of claims  1  or  2  wherein ring opening conditions for adding oxygen-containing gas include temperatures from ambient to 700° C., pressures from atmospheric to 34576 kPa (5000 psig), and treat gas rates up to 534 m 3 /m 3  (3000 scf/B).  
   
   
       5 . The upgrading process of  claim 3  wherein ring opening conditions for adding oxygen-containing gas include temperatures from ambient to 700° C., pressures from atmospheric to 34576 kPa (5000 psig), and treat gas rates up to 534 m 3 /m 3  (3000 scf/B).  
   
   
       6 . The process of  claims 1  to  3  wherein the oil soluble metal catalyst include metals from Groups 4-12.  
   
   
       7 . The process of  claim 6  wherein the metal include at least one of V, Cr, Mo, W, Fe, Ni, Co, Pt, Pd, Ru and Mn.  
   
   
       8 . The process of  claim 6  wherein the metal soluble catalyst is present in an amount from 1 to 1000 wppm, based on feed.  
   
   
       9 . The process of  claims 1  to  3  wherein the feed may be feeds for the production of lubricant oil basestocks or may be feeds for the production of distillate fuels.  
   
   
       10 . The process of  claim 3  wherein ring opening is incorporated into the upgrading process.  
   
   
       11 . The process of  claim 10  wherein ring opening takes place in a ring opening vessel which vessel is incorporated into the upgrading process.