A method for upgrading pyrolysis oil includes contacting a pyrolysis oil feed with hydrogen in the presence of a mixed metal oxide catalyst in a first slurry reactor, where: the pyrolysis oil feed comprises multi-ring aromatic compounds comprising greater than or equal to sixteen carbon atoms, and contacting the pyrolysis oil feed with hydrogen in the presence of the mixed metal oxide catalyst in the first slurry reactor to convert at least a portion of the multi-ring aromatic compounds in the pyrolysis oil feed to light aromatic compounds comprising di-aromatic compounds, tri-aromatic compounds, or both, passing an intermediate stream comprising the light aromatic compounds to a second slurry reactor downstream of the first slurry reactor; and contacting the intermediate stream with hydrogen in the presence of a mesoporous zeolite supported metal catalyst in a second slurry reactor.

A method for upgrading pyrolysis oil includes contacting a pyrolysis oil feed with hydrogen in the presence of a mixed metal oxide catalyst in a first slurry reactor, where: the pyrolysis oil feed comprises multi-ring aromatic compounds comprising greater than or equal to sixteen carbon atoms, and contacting the pyrolysis oil feed with hydrogen in the presence of the mixed metal oxide catalyst in the first slurry reactor to convert at least a portion of the multi-ring aromatic compounds in the pyrolysis oil feed to light aromatic compounds comprising di-aromatic compounds, tri-aromatic compounds, or both, passing an intermediate stream comprising the light aromatic compounds to a second slurry reactor downstream of the first slurry reactor; and contacting the intermediate stream with hydrogen in the presence of a mesoporous zeolite supported metal catalyst in a second slurry reactor.

The invention is a process for producing a white oil having an initial boiling point of at least 300° C., the process comprising a step of catalytically hydrogenating a hydrocarbon feedstock at a temperature of from 80 to 190° C., at a pressure of from 50 to 160 bars, a liquid hourly space velocity of 0.2 to 5 hr.sup.−1 and an hydrogen treat rate up to 200 Nm.sup.3/ton of feed, the hydrocarbon feedstock having a sulphur content of less than 10 ppm by weight, an initial boiling point within the range from 150 to 350° C. and a final boiling point within the range from 350 to 550° C.

The invention is a process for producing a white oil having an initial boiling point of at least 300° C., the process comprising a step of catalytically hydrogenating a hydrocarbon feedstock at a temperature of from 80 to 190° C., at a pressure of from 50 to 160 bars, a liquid hourly space velocity of 0.2 to 5 hr.sup.−1 and an hydrogen treat rate up to 200 Nm.sup.3/ton of feed, the hydrocarbon feedstock having a sulphur content of less than 10 ppm by weight, an initial boiling point within the range from 150 to 350° C. and a final boiling point within the range from 350 to 550° C.

A method for upgrading pyrolysis oil includes contacting a pyrolysis oil feed with hydrogen in the presence of a mixed metal oxide catalyst in a first slurry reactor, where: the pyrolysis oil feed comprises multi-ring aromatic compounds comprising greater than or equal to sixteen carbon atoms, and contacting the pyrolysis oil feed with hydrogen in the presence of the mixed metal oxide catalyst in the first slurry reactor to convert at least a portion of the multi-ring aromatic compounds in the pyrolysis oil feed to light aromatic compounds comprising di-aromatic compounds, tri-aromatic compounds, or both, passing an intermediate stream comprising the light aromatic compounds to a second slurry reactor downstream of the first slurry reactor; and contacting the intermediate stream with hydrogen in the presence of a mesoporous zeolite supported metal catalyst in a second slurry reactor.

A method for upgrading pyrolysis oil includes contacting a pyrolysis oil feed with hydrogen in the presence of a mixed metal oxide catalyst in a first slurry reactor, where: the pyrolysis oil feed comprises multi-ring aromatic compounds comprising greater than or equal to sixteen carbon atoms, and contacting the pyrolysis oil feed with hydrogen in the presence of the mixed metal oxide catalyst in the first slurry reactor to convert at least a portion of the multi-ring aromatic compounds in the pyrolysis oil feed to light aromatic compounds comprising di-aromatic compounds, tri-aromatic compounds, or both, passing an intermediate stream comprising the light aromatic compounds to a second slurry reactor downstream of the first slurry reactor; and contacting the intermediate stream with hydrogen in the presence of a mesoporous zeolite supported metal catalyst in a second slurry reactor.

A method for upgrading pyrolysis oil includes contacting a pyrolysis oil feed with hydrogen in the presence of a mixed metal oxide catalyst in a first slurry reactor, where: the pyrolysis oil feed comprises multi-ring aromatic compounds comprising greater than or equal to sixteen carbon atoms, and contacting the pyrolysis oil feed with hydrogen in the presence of the mixed metal oxide catalyst in the first slurry reactor to convert at least a portion of the multi-ring aromatic compounds in the pyrolysis oil feed to light aromatic compounds comprising di-aromatic compounds, tri-aromatic compounds, or both, passing an intermediate stream comprising the light aromatic compounds to a second slurry reactor downstream of the first slurry reactor; and contacting the intermediate stream with hydrogen in the presence of a mesoporous zeolite supported metal catalyst in a second slurry reactor.

A method for upgrading pyrolysis oil includes contacting a pyrolysis oil feed with hydrogen in the presence of a mixed metal oxide catalyst in a first slurry reactor, where: the pyrolysis oil feed comprises multi-ring aromatic compounds comprising greater than or equal to sixteen carbon atoms, and contacting the pyrolysis oil feed with hydrogen in the presence of the mixed metal oxide catalyst in the first slurry reactor to convert at least a portion of the multi-ring aromatic compounds in the pyrolysis oil feed to light aromatic compounds comprising di-aromatic compounds, tri-aromatic compounds, or both, passing an intermediate stream comprising the light aromatic compounds to a second slurry reactor downstream of the first slurry reactor; and contacting the intermediate stream with hydrogen in the presence of a mesoporous zeolite supported metal catalyst in a second slurry reactor.

An ebullated bed hydroprocessing system is upgraded using a dual catalyst system that includes a heterogeneous catalyst and dispersed metal sulfide particles to improve the quality of vacuum residue. The improved quality of vacuum residue can be provided by one or more of reduced viscosity, reduced density (increased API gravity), reduced asphaltene content, reduced carbon residue content, reduced sulfur content, and reduced sediment. Vacuum residue of improved quality can be produced while operating the upgraded ebullated bed reactor at the same or higher severity, temperature, throughput and/or conversion. Similarly, vacuum residue of same or higher quality can be produced while operating the upgraded ebullated bed reactor at higher severity, temperature, throughput and/or conversion.

An ebullated bed hydroprocessing system is upgraded using a dual catalyst system that includes a heterogeneous catalyst and dispersed metal sulfide particles to improve the quality of vacuum residue. The improved quality of vacuum residue can be provided by one or more of reduced viscosity, reduced density (increased API gravity), reduced asphaltene content, reduced carbon residue content, reduced sulfur content, and reduced sediment. Vacuum residue of improved quality can be produced while operating the upgraded ebullated bed reactor at the same or higher severity, temperature, throughput and/or conversion. Similarly, vacuum residue of same or higher quality can be produced while operating the upgraded ebullated bed reactor at higher severity, temperature, throughput and/or conversion.