Naphthenes, hydropyrolysis

The hydropyrolysis of a representative polycyclic naphthene, i.e., decalin (2), was investigated as a function of reaction temperature (525°-625°C) and hydrogen pressure 500-2000 psig). In addition, a comparison between hydropyrolysis and thermal cracking of 2 was made by doing a parallel study with this compound under nitrogen pressure, using otherwise identical experimental conditions. The apparatus and experimental methods were the same as in the study of n-hexadecane (see Experimental section). 

The observed constancy in the relative yields of liquid and gas products from hydropyrolysis of 2 as a function of pressure (Table VII) shows that hydropyrolysis of polycyclic naphthenes can be carried out... 

Hydropyrolysis processing is probably best suited for those feedstocks which can best utilize the inhibition effects of hydrogen on polymerization, condensation, and aromatization reactions. Such feedstocks are high molecular weight naphthenic materials which are susceptible to cracking but are easily converted to coke by liquid-phase bimolecular reactions. 

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