US 12,030,845 B2
Isomerization of normal paraffins
Wesley Sattler, Parsippany, NJ (US); Jihad M. Dakka, Whitehouse Station, NJ (US); Guang Cao, Princeton, NJ (US); Xinrui Yu, Furlong, PA (US); Brandon M. Carcuffe, Hackettstown, NJ (US); Jason M. Golias, Clinton, NJ (US); Scott J. Weigel, Allentown, PA (US); Carolyn M. Aimino, Milford, NJ (US); and Megan E. Witzke, Bedminster, NJ (US)
Assigned to EXXONMOBIL TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING COMPANY, Annandale, NJ (US)
Filed by ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company, Annandale, NJ (US)
Filed on Jun. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/807,024.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/202,585, filed on Jun. 17, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0402838 A1, Dec. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. C07C 5/27 (2006.01); B01J 21/06 (2006.01); B01J 23/00 (2006.01); B01J 23/30 (2006.01)
CPC C07C 5/2705 (2013.01) [B01J 21/066 (2013.01); B01J 23/002 (2013.01); B01J 23/30 (2013.01); C07C 2521/06 (2013.01); C07C 2523/30 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
providing a first bifunctional mixed metal oxide catalyst comprising a first bifunctional mixed metal oxide impregnated with noble metal, the first bifunctional mixed metal oxide catalyst comprising about 40 wt. % to about 70 wt. % zirconium, a first amount of tungsten, and about 0.01 wt. % to about 5 wt. % variable oxidation state metal, each based on total mass of the mixed metal oxide;
providing a second bifunctional mixed metal oxide catalyst comprising a bifunctional mixed metal oxide impregnated with a noble metal, the second bifunctional mixed metal oxide catalyst comprising a second amount of tungsten, the first amount of tungsten, relative to a weight of the first bifunctional mixed metal catalyst, being higher than the second amount of tungsten relative to a weight of the second bifunctional mixed metal catalyst,
wherein the second bifunctional mixed metal oxide catalyst comprises about 40 wt. % to about 70 wt. % zirconium and about 0.01 wt. % to about 5 wt. % variable oxidation state metal, each based on total mass of the bifunctional mixed metal oxide, and an amount of tungsten effective to isomerize n-heptane to one or more branched paraffins at about 70% to about 80% conversion under isomerization reaction conditions with a selectivity ratio of conversion to cracking for n-heptane of about 11 or greater;
sequentially contacting the first bifunctional mixed metal oxide catalyst and the second bifunctional mixed metal oxide catalyst under the isomerization reaction conditions with a feed mixture comprising at least one C7+ normal paraffin; and
obtaining one or more branched paraffins formed from the at least one C7+ normal paraffin under the isomerization reaction conditions.