IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,680,026
Granted Patent B2
US 12,680,026 · App. 18/137,172 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Method of producing activated carbon

Inventors: Wala Algozeeb (Alkhobar, SA); Amer Al-Tuwailib (Qatif, SA); Ibrahim Al-Zahrani (Dammam, SA)
Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
C10B57/06C10B57/045C10G9/06C10G2300/1037C10G2300/301C10G2300/305C10G2300/4006C10G2300/4012C10G2300/80
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,680,026
App. No.
18/137,172
Filed
Apr 20, 2023
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
1772
USPC
502/427
Abstract

A method of producing activated carbon includes pyrolyzing a hydrocarbon feedstock in the presence of a salt. The hydrocarbon feedstock includes a gas hydrocarbon, a liquid hydrocarbon, or both. The salt includes an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, or both.

Claims (22)

1 . A method of producing activated carbon comprising pyrolyzing a hydrocarbon feedstock in the presence of a salt, wherein:

the hydrocarbon feedstock comprises light cycle oil, heavy cycle oil, or both; and

the salt comprises an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, or both.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon feedstock comprises light cycle oil.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon feedstock comprises a mixture of hydrocarbons having a boiling point range within about 150° C. to about 600° C.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the mixture of hydrocarbons has a boiling point range of about 150° C. to about 400° C.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the mixture of hydrocarbons has a cetane number in a range of about 15 to about 25.

6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the mixture of hydrocarbons has a boiling point range of about 160° C. to about 360° C.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon feedstock comprises a mixture of hydrocarbons having a boiling point range within about 180° C. to about 600° C.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein at least about 90% volume of the mixture of hydrocarbons has a boiling point range of about 300° C. to about 600° C.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the salt comprises a potassium salt, a sodium salt, a calcium salt, or a combination thereof.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the salt comprises a potassium salt.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the salt comprises an acetate salt, an oxalate salt, a carbonate salt, a bicarbonate salt, or a combination thereof.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the salt comprises potassium bicarbonate, potassium acetate, or a combination thereof.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the salt comprises potassium acetate.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pyrolysis is carried out at a temperature in the range of about 600° C. to about 700° C.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pyrolysis is carried out in the presence of two or more salts.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the two or more salts comprise potassium chloride, potassium hydroxide, or both.

17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method produces activated carbon at a yield in the range of about 10 wt. % to about 20 wt. % when the pyrolysis is carried out at a pressure of about 1 bar.

18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method produces activated carbon at a yield in the range of about 10 wt. % to about 30 wt. % when the pyrolysis is carried out at a pressure greater than about 1 bar.

19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method produces a hydrocarbon product with a higher aromatic content than the hydrocarbon feedstock.

20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the salt is not a hydroxide salt.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 9, 2023
From: ALGOZEEB, WALA; AL-TUWAILIB, AMER; AL-ZAHRANI, IBRAHIM
To: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
Reel/Frame 064537/0427 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240352321A1 · Oct 24, 2024
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