Ultra Pure Fluids

Abstract

The invention relates to hydrocarbon fluids having high purity with respect to at least one of sulfur species, nitrogen species, oxygenated species, and unsaturated species, particularly hydrocarbon fluids low in aromatics, a method of making said hydrocarbon fluids, a catalyst for use in said method, an apparatus whereby said method may be practiced, and uses of said fluids.

1 - 48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . In a process comprising a step of supplying, adding, or mixing a hydrocarbon fluid having a boiling range of between 5° C. and 50° C., and comprising less than 100 ppm aromatics, no detectable sulfur by ASTM D-5453 and no detectable oxygenates using flame ionization detection (FID), said process selected from the manufacture of semiconductors, water treatment, solvent extraction, ore extraction, metal rolling, and polyolefin manufacture, the improvement comprising said hydrocarbon fluid is made by a process comprising contacting a hydrocarbon feedstream boiling below 350° C. and having from 1 wt % to 20 wt % aromatic hydrocarbons, in the presence of a hydrogen-containing treat gas in a reaction stage operated under effective aromatics saturation conditions, including a temperature of below 232° C., with an aromatics saturation catalyst comprising Pt and Pd in a weight ratio of 1:2 to 1:4 supported on an inorganic, porous, non-layered, crystalline, mesoporous support material, wherein the support material has a framework comprising at least aluminum and silica, and wherein the ratio of silica to aluminum is about 10:1 to about 100:1 and the average pore diameter of the support material is about 15 to less than about 40 Å, and recovering a distillation fraction product comprising said hydrocarbon fluid. 
     
     
         50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . A formulation made by the process of  claim 49 , wherein said formulation is selected from printing inks, agricultural formulations, silicone sealant compositions, and compositions comprising colorants. 
     
     
         52 . A formulation according to  claim 51 , comprising a resin, a colorant, and said hydrocarbon fluid. 
     
     
         53 . A formulation according to  claim 51 , comprising said hydrocarbon fluid and at least one material selected from pesticides, plant growth regulators, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         54 . A catalyst comprising an inorganic, porous, non-layered, crystalline, mesoporous MCM-41 having about 0.10-0.25 wt % Pt and about 0.30-0.75 wt % Pd incorporated therein in a weight ratio of 1:2 to 1:4, said mesoporous MCM-41 characterized by an average pore diameter of about 15 to less than about 40 Å, said catalyst further characterized in that after contact with a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising between 1 and 20 wt % aromatics and boiling below 350° C., in the presence of a hydrogen-containing treat gas in a reaction stage operated under effective aromatics saturation conditions, said conditions including a temperature of below 232° C., there can be recovered, downstream of said contact, a distillation fraction product comprising a hydrocarbon fluid having a boiling range of at least 5° C., and comprising less than 100 ppm aromatics, no detectable sulfur according to ASTM D-5453, and no detectable oxygenates by FID.