Hydrogenation of hydrocarbon resins

Abstract

The invention is directed to a process for the hydrogenation of hydrocarbon resins in the presence of a precious metal catalyst, wherein the hydrogenation is performed in the additional presence of at least one metal oxide, capable of reacting with sulfide and/or halogen.

1 . Process for the hydrogenation of a feedstock comprising hydrocarbon resins in the presence of a precious metal catalyst, wherein the precious metal in said catalyst is selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium and alloys thereof, and wherein the hydrogenation is performed in the additional presence of at least one metal oxide, capable of reacting with sulfide and/or halogen.  
   
   
       2 . Process according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of oxides of silver, lanthanum, antimony, nickel, bismuth, cadmium, lead, tin, vanadium, calcium, strontium, barium, cobalt, copper, tungsten, zinc, molybdenum, manganese and iron.  
   
   
       3 . Process according to  claim 1 , wherein the feedstock comprising hydrocarbon resins is first hydrogenated in the presence of a precious metal catalyst and wherein the hydrogenated feedstock is subsequently contacted with said at least one metal oxide, capable of reacting with sulfide and/or halogen.  
   
   
       4 . Process according to  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the hydrocarbon resins, the metal oxide and/or the precious metal catalyst are recirculated.  
   
   
       5 . Process according to  claim 1 , wherein the precious metal catalyst is a supported catalyst, the support being selected from silica, alumina, silica-alumina, titania, zirconia, zeolites, clay materials and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       6 . Process according to  claim 1 , wherein the precious metal content of the catalyst is between 0.0001 and 5 weight %, calculated on the weight of the catalyst.  
   
   
       7 . Process according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogenation is carried out in a loop reactor, containing a fixed bed of the precious metal catalyst and a dispersed said metal oxide in the hydrocarbon resin, the dispersion being recirculated through the catalyst bed.  
   
   
       8 . Process according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
 at least part of the hydrocarbon resins, the metal oxide and/or the precious metal catalyst are recirculated,    the precious metal catalyst is a supported catalyst, the support being selected from silica, alumina, silica-alumina, titania, zirconia, zeolites, clay materials and combinations thereof, and    the precious metal content of the catalyst is between 0.0001 and 5 weight %, calculated on the weight of the catalyst.    
   
   
       9 . Process according to  claim 8 , wherein the hydrogenation is carried out in a loop reactor, containing a fixed bed of the precious metal catalyst and a dispersed said metal oxide in the hydrocarbon resin, the dispersion being recirculated through the catalyst bed.  
   
   
       10 . Process according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon resins are yielded by polymerization from coal tar, petroleum or turpentine.  
   
   
       11 . Process for the hydrogenation of a feedstock comprising hydrocarbon resins in the presence of a precious metal catalyst, wherein the hydrogenation is performed in the additional presence of at least one metal oxide, capable of reacting with sulfide and/or halogen, wherein the hydrogenation is carried out in a loop reactor, containing a fixed bed of the precious metal catalyst and a dispersed metal oxide in the hydrocarbon resin, the dispersion being recirculated through the catalyst bed.  
   
   
       12 . Process according to  claim 7  or  11 , wherein the fixed bed is a structured reactor element.  
   
   
       13 . Process according to  claim 12 , wherein the structured reactor element is a monolith.  
   
   
       14 . Process for the hydrogenation of a feedstock comprising hydrocarbon resins, the hydrocarbon resins are yielded by polymerization from coal tar, petroleum or turpentine, wherein the hydrogenation is performed in the presence of a precious metal catalyst, and wherein the hydrogenation is performed in the additional presence of at least one metal oxide, capable of reacting with sulfide and/or halogen.  
   
   
       15 . Process according to  claim 1 , wherein said alloy is platinum-palladium.