GB506678A - Improvements in the manufacture and production of products similar to wax or petroleum jelly - Google Patents

Abstract

506,678. Hydrocarbons; alcohols; ketones. JOHNSON, G. W. (I. G. Farbenindustrie.Akt.-Ges.) Dec. 9, 1937, No. 34106. [Class 2 (iii)] Products resembling wax or petroleum jelly arc obtained by heating distillation residues of high molecular weight fatty acids with decarboxylating catalysts, and reducing the products with hydrogen. Residues obtained by distillation of fatty acids. from the saponification of natural oils, fats or waxes, e.g. coconut, pahn kernel, castor, linseed, soya bean, and train oils, beef tallow, carnauba and montan waxes or from the oxidation of paraffins or hydrogenation products of coals, tars, and carbon oxides may be treated, in particular those obtained by distillation under reduced pressure, if desired while leading in, for example, steam, water, benzine or benzene, as described in Specification 213,267, [Class 32]. The residues may first be purified as by hydrogenation. Waxy, oily or fatty substances may be added before or during the working up. Metallic iron or nickel or manganese oxide or even the walls of metallic reaction vessels may be used as catalysts for the decarboxylation, generally at above 200‹ C. Increased pressure may be used. The treatment is generally continued until evolution of carbon dioxide ceases, the product then consisting of ketones. The subsequent reduction may be effected with hydrogen at, 10-250 atmos. and 100-500‹ C., in thepresence of catalysts such as metallic nickel, cobalt or iron or tungsten sulphide, preferably on carriers, or with zinc and acid or sodium and alcohol. It may be interrupted when part of the ketones is still present as such or as alcohols. The products are mainly hydrocarbons and/or alcohols of high molecular weight. They may be used in oil pastes, for protecting metals and other substances from injurious gases or, when fully hydrogenated, as bases for salves. In examples: (1) and (2) the residue from the distillation according to Specification 213,267 of fatty acids obtained from soya bean oil is hydrogenated, decarboxylated by heating with iron powder, and then hydrogenated to products resembling ozokerite or petroleum jelly ; (3) fatty acids made by oxidation of paraffin wax synthesized from carbon monoxide and hydrogen are distilled with steam under reduced pressure, and the residue similarly treated ; (4), (5), (6) the residue after distilling crude fatty acids obtained by oxidation of brown coal paraffin wax is heated with iron powder to give a ketone mixture. This is hydrogenated alone or after mixing with refrigerator oil, or, is dissolved in butyl alcohol and reduced by adding sodium ; (7) the distillation residue of the oxidation product of synthetic paraffin wax is heated with iron, and reduced with hydrogen. Further hydrogenation with fresh catalyst removes the colour.