Description:FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patents Rules, 2003
PROVISIONAL/COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10 and rule 13)
1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
A PROCESS FOR PREPARATION OF 40-60 PETROLEUM ETHER AND 60-80 PETROLEUM ETHER

2. APPLICANT(S):
a. NAME: LASA SUPERGENERICS LTD.
b. NATIONALITY: INDIA
c. ADDRESS: C-105, MIDC, MAHAD, DIST. RAIGAD, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA. PIN 402309

3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION:


FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a process for preparation of petroleum ether. It also relates to purification of the petroleum ether.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Petroleum ether basically consists of aliphatic hydrocarbons and depending upon the boiling points it is named as 40-60, 60-80.
It is widely used as a solvent for oils, fats, and waxes; a detergent; a fuel; in paints and varnishes; an insecticide; and in photography. It is commonly used as a laboratory solvent. However, as always necessary, a solvent shall be pure, free from impurities. Certain impurities interfere with the photoactive analyte and give false positive results. Therefore, petroleum ether’s high purity is very important and necessary for employing it as solvent.
It is difficult to obtain the petroleum ether in correct composition and with good purity. The yield loss is another factor restricting the purification of petroleum there by chemical processes.
Therefore, there was a long-standing need for a solution.
The inventor of current invention successfully handled this challenge and developed an efficient process for preparation and purification of the petroleum ether.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention in one aspect provides a current invention in first aspect, provides a process for preparation of 40-60 petroleum ether that comprising passing pentane, hexane and cyclopentane through an alumina column and an activated carbon column and mixing at the temperature below 25 degree in the quantities of pentane not more than 80%, hexane not more than 30% and cyclopentane not more than 30%.

In another aspect it provides a process for preparation of 60-80 petroleum ether that comprises passing pentane, cyclopentane, hexane, cyclohexane and hydrocarbons through an alumina column and an activated carbon column and mixing at the temperature below 25 degree in the quantities of pentane not more than 5%, cyclopentane not more than 5%, hexane not more than 95%, cyclohexane not more than 2% and other hydrocarbons not more than 2%.

In yet another aspect of the invention, the 40-60 petroleum ether and the 60-80 petroleum ether is further dried using a metal, a metal salt or a mixture thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As mentioned, current invention in first aspect, provides a process for preparation of 40-60 petroleum ether that comprising passing pentane, hexane and cyclopentane through an alumina column and an activated carbon column and mixing at the temperature below 25 degree in the quantities of pentane not more than 80%, hexane not more than 30% and cyclopentane not more than 30%.

Preferably, the pentane, hexane and cyclopentane are individually adsorbed on and eluted through the alumina column and the activated carbon column. After that the mixing is carried out at the temperature below 25 degree. The maintenance of the temperature below 25 degree is necessary to prevent degradation and generation of byproducts.

The pentane, hexane and cyclopentane are first adsorbed on and eluted through the alumina column. Alumina column adsorb water in the initial components. The pentane, hexane and cyclopentane eluted from the alumina column are then adsorbed on and eluted through the activated carbon column. The purified components are then mixed below 25 degree.

In another aspect, it provides a process for preparation of 60-80 petroleum ether that comprises passing pentane, cyclopentane, hexane, cyclohexane and hydrocarbons through an alumina column and an activated carbon column and mixing at the temperature below 25 degree in the quantities of pentane not more than 5%, cyclopentane not more than 5%, hexane not more than 95%, cyclohexane not more than 2% and other hydrocarbons not more than 2%.

Preferably, the pentane, cyclopentane, hexane, cyclohexane and hydrocarbons are individually adsorbed on and eluted through the alumina column and the activated carbon column. After that the mixing is carried out at the temperature below 25 degree. The maintenance of the temperature below 25 degree is necessary to prevent degradation and generation of byproducts.

The pentane, cyclopentane, hexane, cyclohexane and hydrocarbons are first adsorbed on and eluted through the alumina column. Alumina column adsorb water in the initial components. The pentane, cyclopentane, hexane, cyclohexane and hydrocarbons eluted from the alumina column are then adsorbed on and eluted through the activated carbon column. The purified components are then mixed below 25 degree.

Preferably, the alumina column used in current invention has mesh size ranging between 100 - 150 mesh and the activated carbon column used in current invention has packed with 12-40 mesh activated carbon.

In yet another aspect of the invention, the 40-60 petroleum ether and the 60-80 petroleum ether is further dried using a metal, a metal salt or a mixture thereof. Preferably, said metal is dry sodium and said metal salt is calcium chloride, calcium sulfate or mixture thereof. In more preferred way, said 40-60 petroleum ether and said 60-80 petroleum ether is dried by passing it through a column packed with anhydrous calcium chloride, calcium sulfate or mixture thereof.

Following examples describe the construction and working of the current invention in a manner best known to the applicant. These examples shall be taken as illustrative purpose only and shall not be construed as limitations of the invention.

Example 1: Preparation of 40-60 petroleum ether
The alumina column with 100 mesh size and the activated carbon column packed with 12 mesh activated carbon were kept ready for adsorptions.
The pentane, hexane and cyclopentane were individually adsorbed on the alumina column and then on activated carbon column. The obtained purified components were mixed at the temperature at 15 degree in the quantities of pentane not more than 80%, hexane not more than 30% and cyclopentane not more than 30%.
It was dried by passing through an anhydrous calcium chloride column. Finally, the obtained pure 40-60 petroleum ether with specification pentane not more than 80%, hexane not more than 30% and cyclopentane not more than 30% was packed in containers and labelled under the brand Metroleum.

Example 2: Preparation of 60-80 petroleum ether
The alumina column with 150 mesh size and the activated carbon column packed with 40 mesh activated carbon were kept ready for adsorptions.
The pentane, cyclopentane, hexane, cyclohexane and hydrocarbons were individually adsorbed on the alumina column and then on activated carbon column. The obtained purified components were mixed at the temperature at 23 degree in the quantities of pentane not more than 5%, cyclopentane not more than 5%, hexane not more than 95%, cyclohexane not more than 2% and other hydrocarbons not more than 2%.
It was dried by passing through an anhydrous calcium chloride column. Finally, the obtained pure 60-80 petroleum ether with specification pentane not more than 5%, cyclopentane not more than 5%, hexane not more than 95%, cyclohexane not more than 2% and other hydrocarbons not more than 2% was packed in containers and labelled under the brand Metroleum.

, Claims:CLAIMS
I/We claim:
1. A process for preparation of 40-60 petroleum ether comprising passing pentane, hexane and cyclopentane through an alumina column and an activated carbon column and mixing at the temperature below 25 degree in the quantities of pentane not more than 80%, hexane not more than 30%, cyclopentane not more than 30%.

2. A process for preparation of 60-80 petroleum ether comprising passing pentane, cyclopentane, hexane, cyclohexane and hydrocarbons through an alumina column and an activated carbon column and mixing at the temperature below 25 degree in the quantities of pentane not more than 5%, cyclopentane not more than 5%, hexane not more than 95%, cyclohexane not more than 2% and other hydrocarbons not more than 2%.

3. The process as claimed in claims 1, wherein the pentane, hexane and cyclopentane are individually adsorbed on and eluted through the alumina column and the activated carbon column.

4. The process as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pentane, hexane and cyclopentane are first adsorbed on and eluted through the alumina column.

5. The process as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pentane, hexane and cyclopentane eluted from the alumina column are then adsorbed on and eluted through the activated carbon column.

6. The process as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pentane, cyclopentane, hexane, cyclohexane and hydrocarbons are individually adsorbed on and eluted through the alumina column and the activated carbon column.

7. The process as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pentane, cyclopentane, hexane, cyclohexane and hydrocarbons are first adsorbed on and eluted through the alumina column.

8. The process as claimed in claim 7, wherein the pentane, cyclopentane, hexane, cyclohexane and hydrocarbons eluted from the alumina column are then adsorbed on and eluted through the activated carbon column.

9. The process as claimed in claims 1 and 2, wherein said alumina column has mesh size ranging between 100 - 150 mesh.

10. The process as claimed in claims 1 and 2, wherein said activated carbon column has packed with 12-40 mesh activated carbon.

11. The process as claimed in claims 1 and 2, wherein said 40-60 petroleum ether and said 60-80 petroleum ether is dried using a metal, a metal salt or a mixture thereof.

12. The process as claimed in claim 11, wherein said metal is dry sodium.

13. The process as claimed in claim 11, wherein said metal salt is calcium chloride, calcium sulfate or mixture thereof.

14. The process as claimed in claim 11, wherein said 40-60 petroleum ether and said 60-80 petroleum ether is dried by passing it through a column packed with anhydrous calcium chloride, calcium sulfate or mixture thereof.
Dated this 10th day of July, 2023
Signature: To be digitally signed by-
Name: Mr. Parag M. More
Partner, MORE & KADAM LEGAL ASSOCIATES
INTELLECTUAL PLATFORM®
Patent Agent for applicant
Patent Agent Regn. No. IN/PA-1688
On behalf of applicant