Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of selectively hydrogenating at least one unsaturated hydrocarbon compound having 2 or more double bonds or 1 or more triple bond in the molecule, which is admixed with at least one hydrocarbon compound having 4 or more carbon atoms, by contact with gaseous hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst in a fixed bed reaction vessel, characterised in that the hydrogen is supplied, in an amount of 1 to 3 moles per mole of said unsaturated hydrocarbon at at least two points along the length of the reaction vessel, which may consist of two or more reaction vessels connected in series, provided that the proportion of the hydrogen supplied at the second or subsequent point is at least 5% by weight of the amount supplied at the previous point.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of selectively hydrogenating at least one unsaturated hydrocarbon compound having 2 or more double bonds or 1 or more triple bond in the molecule, which is admixed with at least one hydrocarbon compound having 4 or more carbon atoms, by contact with gaseous hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst in a fixed bed reaction vessel, characterised in that the hydrogen is supplied, in an amount of 1 to 3 moles per mole of said unsaturated hydrocarbon at at least two points along the length of the reaction vessel, which may consist of two or more reaction vessels connected in series, provided that the proportion of the hydrogen supplied at the second or subsequent point is at least 5% by weight of the amount supplied at the previous point.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the flow rate of hydrogen gas at the second or later supply point along the flow direction of said reaction vessel is 5 to 100% of that at the previous point.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, which is carried out in a fixed bed reaction vessel containing several catalyst layers split into several zones along the flow direction and the hydrogen gas is independently supplied to each zone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the hydrogenation reaction is performed in a vapour phase.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
35 words
A method as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the total amount of hydrogen gas supplied is 1.1 to 2.0 moles per mole of said unsaturated hydrocarbons in the starting hydrocarbon mixture.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein a palladium catalyst is used as the catalyst.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein propadiene, methylacetylene, 1,2- or 1,3-butadiene, ethylacetylene, vinylacetylene and/or 1,3-pentadiene is hydrogenated.