Abstract:
Sweet cracked naphtha of improved oxidation stability is produced by contacting the sour naphtha at 70-90 DEG F., and in the presence of 3-9 SCF of free oxygen/lb. of mercaptan sulphur in the naphtha, with a granular catalyst comprising cupric chloride, water and a carrier, and adding 0.5-10 lbs./1000 barrels of naphtha each of a phenylene diamine and a metal deactivator to the sweet naphtha. The carrier contains 15-25 wt. per cent of water and the weight ratio of carrier to cupric chloride is between 12:1 and 15:1. The cupric chloride may contain sodium or ammonium chloride. Carriers referred to are fuller's earth and Attapulgus clay. The sour naphtha should be free of hydrogen sulphide, which may be removed, e.g. by washing with dilute aqueous caustic alkali solution. Alkali may be removed by passing through a salt filter or through steel wool, gravel or sand. The sour naphtha may also be treated in a solutizer process to remove part of the mercaptans present. The sweet naphtha may be water-washed and passed through a salt filter. The cracked naphtha may be derived from the thermal or catalytic cracking of gas oils, reduced crudes or heavy naphthas; mixtures of a major proportion of cracked naphtha together with virgin naphtha may be used. Phenylene diamines referred to are N, N1-di-isopropyl, N, N1-di-sec-butyl, N, N1-di-amyl, N, N1-dihexyl, N-propylN1-butyl, N-butyl-N1-amyl and N-hexylN1 - octyl p - phenylene diamines. The metal deactivator specified is N, N1-disalicylidine-1, 2-diaminopropane.