PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF DIESEL RANGE HYDROCARBONS

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of diesel range hydrocarbons wherein a feed is hydrotreated in a hydrotreating step and isomerised in an isomerisation step, and a feed comprising fresh feed containing more than 5 wt % of free fatty acids and at least one diluting agent is hydrotreated at a reaction temperature of 200-400° C., in a hydrotreating reactor in the presence of catalyst, and the ratio of the diluting agent/fresh feed is 5-30:1.

Claims

1. A process for the manufacture of diesel range hydrocarbons comprising the following steps: introducing a feedstock comprising bio oil and/or fat from renewable sources to a hydrotreatment step in which hydrocarbons are formed, isomerizing the formed hydrocarbons in an isomerization step, wherein gas phase impurities formed in the hydrotreatment step are removed from the stream comprising hydrocarbons prior to contacting the hydrocarbons with the isomerization catalyst.

2. The process according to claim 1, further comprising a step of purifying the feedstock prior to the hydrotreatment step so as to remove impurities.

3. The process according to claim 1, wherein the gas phase impurities formed in the hydrotreatment step comprise propane, water, CO.sub.x, H.sub.2S, NH.sub.3 or mixtures thereof.

4. The process according to claim 1, wherein the removal of the gas phase impurities formed in the hydrotreatment step is performed in a stripping step upstream of the isomerization catalyst.

5. The process according to claim 4, wherein the stripping step is performed by stripping with water vapor or a suitable gas comprising light hydrocarbon, nitrogen or hydrogen.

6. The process according to claim 4, wherein the stripping step is carried out in a counter-current manner.

7. The process according to claim 1, wherein the feedstock comprises more than 10 wt % of free fatty acids.

8. The process according to claim 1, wherein the feedstock contains less than 10 w-ppm alkaline and alkaline earth metals, calculated as elemental alkaline and alkaline earth metals, less than 10 w-ppm other metals, calculated as elemental metals, and less than 30 w-ppm phosphorus, calculated as elemental phosphorus.

9. The process according to claim 2, wherein the purified feedstock contains less than 10 w-ppm alkaline and alkaline earth metals, calculated as elemental alkaline and alkaline earth metals, less than 10 w-ppm other metals, calculated as elemental metals, and less than 30 w-ppm phosphorus, calculated as elemental phosphorus.

10. The process according to claim 1, wherein the feedstock contains 50-20000 w-ppm of sulphur, calculated as elemental sulphur.

11. The process according to claim 1, wherein the feedstock is selected from plant oils/fats, animal fats/oils, fish fats/oils, fats contained in plants bred by means of gene manipulation, recycled fats of the food industry and mixtures thereof.

12. The process according to claim 1, wherein the feedstock is selected from rapeseed oil, colza oil, canola oil, tall oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil, hempseed oil, olive oil, linseed oil, mustard oil, palm oil, peanut oil, castor oil, coconut oil, lard, tallow, train oil or fats contained in milk.

13. The process according to claim 1, wherein an isomerization catalyst containing molecular sieve is used in the isomerization step.

14. The process according to claim 2, wherein the gas phase impurities formed in the hydrotreatment step comprise propane, water, CO.sub.x, H.sub.2S, NH.sub.3 or mixtures thereof.

15. The process according to claim 2, wherein the removal of the gas phase impurities formed in the hydrotreatment step is performed in a stripping step upstream of the isomerization catalyst.

16. The process according to claim 2, wherein the stripping step is performed by stripping with water vapor or a suitable gas comprising light hydrocarbon, nitrogen or hydrogen.

17. The process according to claim 2, wherein the stripping step is carried out in a counter-current manner.

18. The process according to claim 2, wherein the purified feedstock comprises more than 10 wt % of free fatty acids.

19. The process according to claim 2, wherein the purified feedstock contains 50-20000 w-ppm of sulphur, calculated as elemental sulphur.

20. The process according to claim 2, wherein an isomerization catalyst containing molecular sieve is used in the isomerization step.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] FIG. 1 schematically shows the operation of the hydrotreatment process.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows the increase of formation of high molecular weight hydrocarbons when 10 wt-% free fatty acids was fed along with purified rapeseed oil triglycerides without product recycle.

[0040] FIG. 3 shows the effect of product recycle on preventing the formation of unwanted higher molecular weight by-product.

[0041] FIG. 4 shows reaction temperature profile over catalyst bed and performance of crude rapeseed oil.

[0042] FIG. 5 shows performance of crude animal fat.

[0043] FIG. 6 shows the conversion of rapeseed oil triglycerides to n-paraffins.

[0044] FIG. 7 shows the stability of catalyst as stabile operation was maintained and the formation of heavies was steady over the whole test run of over 9 months.

[0045] FIG. 8 shows that the bromine indexes increased during run even if temperature compensation of catalyst was used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0046] It was surprisingly found that dilution of fresh feed in the hydrotreatment step, in combination with decreased reaction temperature reduces the undesired side reactions and improves reaction selectivity, particularly when a starting material containing free fatty acids is used. The diluting agent can be a hydrocarbon of biological origin and/or non-biological origin. The dilution agent can also be recycled product from the process (product recycle). The diluting agent/fresh feed-ratio is 5-30:1, preferably 10-30:1 and most preferably 12-25:1.

[0047] A preferable embodiment of the invention and of the hydrotreatment step is illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein a hydrotreatment process configuration is provided, comprising one or more catalyst beds in series, hydrotreated product recycle introduction on the top of the first catalyst bed and fresh feed, quench liquid and hydrogen introduction on top of each catalyst beds. This results in improved control of the reaction temperature in the catalyst beds and hence diminishes undesired side reactions.

[0048] In FIG. 1 the hydrotreatment reactor 100 comprises two catalyst beds 10 and 20. Fresh feed 11 is introduced as streams 12 and 13 on the catalyst beds 10 and 20, respectively, and hydrogen as stream 22 and 23 on the catalyst beds 10 and 20, respectively. The fresh feed stream 12 is first mixed with the hydrotreated product recycle stream 41 and quench liquid stream 43 and the resulting mixture 31, diluted in the fresh feed concentration, is then introduced on the catalyst bed 10. In order to obtain a required sulphur concentration in the feed stream 31, required amount of sulphur make up is added to the fresh feed stream 11 via stream 15. As mixture 31 passes through the catalyst bed 10 with the hydrogen stream 22, fatty acids and fatty acid derivatives of the fresh feed stream 12 are converted to the corresponding reaction products. A two-phase stream 32 is withdrawn from the bottom of the catalyst bed 10 and is mixed with the fresh feed stream 13, quench liquid stream 44 and the hydrogen stream 23. The formed vapor-liquid mixture 33, diluted in the fresh feed concentration, is then introduced on the catalyst bed 20 at reduced temperature due to cooling effect of the hydrogen, quench liquid and fresh feed, passed through the catalyst bed 20 and finally withdrawn from the catalyst bed as a product stream 34. The stream 34 is separated in to a vapor stream 35 and liquid stream 36 in the high temperature separator 101. Vapor stream 35 is rich in hydrogen and is directed to further treatment. Part of the liquid stream 36 is returned to the reactor 100 as recycle stream 40, which is further divided to dilution stream 41 and total quench liquid stream 42. The quench liquid stream 42 is cooled in the heat exchanger 102 to provide adequate cooling effect on the top of the catalyst beds 10 and 20. Hydrotreated product stream 51 is directed from the hydrotreatment step to further processing.

[0049] The catalyst beds 10 and 20 may be located in the same pressure vessel or in separate pressure vessels. In the embodiment where the catalyst beds are in the same pressure vessels the hydrogen streams 22 and 23 may alternatively be introduced on the catalyst bed 10 and then be passed through the catalyst beds 10 and 20. In the embodiment where the catalyst beds are in separate pressure vessels, the catalyst beds may operate in parallel mode with separate dilution streams, hydrogen streams and quench liquid streams. The number of catalyst beds may be one or two or more than two.

[0050] The sulphur make up to the hydrotreatment step may be introduced with the fresh feed stream 11. Alternatively, required amount of sulphur may be fed with the hydrogen streams 22 and 23 as gaseous sulphur compound such as hydrogen sulphide.

[0051] Hydrogen is fed to the hydrotreating reactor in excess of the theoretical hydrogen consumption. During the hydrotreating step, triglyceride oils, fatty acids and derivatives thereof are almost theoretically converted to n-paraffins without or almost without side reactions. Additionally, propane is formed from the glycerol part of the triglycerides, water and CO and/or CO.sub.2 from carboxylic oxygen, H.sub.2S from organic sulphur compounds and NH.sub.3 from organic nitrogen compounds. Using the above described procedures in the hydrotreating step, the temperature needed for reactions to start up is achieved in the beginning of each catalyst bed, the temperature increase in the catalyst beds is limited, harmful and partially converted product intermediates can be avoided and the catalyst life is extended considerably. The temperature at the end of the catalyst bed is controlled by net heat of reactions and to the extent of the dilution agent used. The dilution agent may be any hydrocarbon available, of biological origin or non-biological origin. It can also be recycled product from the process. Fresh feed content from feed (total feed) is be less than 20 wt-%. If the product recycle is used, product recycle/fresh feed ratio is 5-30:1, preferably 10-30:1, most preferably 12-25:1. After the hydrotreatment step, the product is subjected to an isomerization step.

Feedstock

[0052] The bio oil and/or fat used as the fresh feed in the process of the present invention originates from renewable sources, such as fats and oils from plants and/or animals and/or fish and compounds derived from them. The basic structural unit of a typical plant or vegetable or animal oil/fat useful as the feedstock is a triglyceride, which is a triester of glycerol with three fatty acid molecules, having the structure presented in the following formula I:

##STR00001##

[0053] In formula I R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are alkyl chains. Fatty acids found in natural triglycerides are almost solely fatty acids of even carbon number. Therefore R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 typically are C.sub.5-C.sub.23 alkyl groups, mainly C.sub.11-C.sub.19 alkyl groups and most typically C.sub.15 or C.sub.17 alkyl groups. R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 may contain carbon-carbon double bonds. These alkyl chains can be saturated, unsaturated or polyunsaturated.

[0054] Suitable bio oils are plant and vegetable oils and fats, animal fats, fish oils, and mixtures thereof containing fatty acids and/or fatty acid esters. Examples of suitable materials are wood-based and other plant-based and vegetable-based fats and oils such as rapeseed oil, colza oil, canola oil, tall oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil, hempseed oil, olive oil, linseed oil, mustard oil, palm oil, peanut oil, castor oil, coconut oil, as well as fats contained in plants bred by means of gene manipulation, animal-based fats such as lard, tallow, train oil, and fats contained in milk, as well as recycled fats of the food industry and mixtures of the above. Bio oil and fat suitable as fresh feed may comprise C.sub.12-C.sub.24 fatty acids, derivatives thereof such as anhydrides or esters of fatty acids as well as triglycerides of fatty acids or combinations of thereof. Fatty acids or fatty acid derivatives, such as esters may be produced via hydrolysis of bio oils or by their fractionalization or transesterification reactions of triglycerides.

[0055] In order to avoid catalyst deactivation and undesired side reactions the feed shall comply with the following requirements: The amount of alkaline and alkaline earth metals, calculated as elemental alkaline and alkaline earth metals, in the feed is below 10, preferably below 5 and most preferably below 1 w-ppm. The amount of other metals, calculated as elemental metals, in the feed is below 10, preferably below 5 and most preferably below 1 w-ppm. The amount of phosphorus, calculated as elemental phosphorus is below 30, preferably below 15 and most preferably below 5 w-ppm.

[0056] In many cases the feedstock, such as crude plant oil or animal fat, is not suitable as such in processing because of high impurity content and thus the feedstock is preferably purified using suitably one or more conventional purification procedures before introducing it to the hydrotreating step of the process. Examples of some conventional procedures are provided below:

[0057] Degumming of plant oils/fats and animal oils/fats means the removal of phosphorus compounds, such as phospholipids. Solvent extracted vegetable oils often contain significant amounts of gums, typically 0.5-3% by weight, which are mostly phosphatides (phospholipids) and therefore a degumming stage is needed for crude plant oils and animal fats in order to remove phospholipids and metals present in crude oils and fats. Iron and also other metals may be present in the form of metal-phosphatide complexes. Even a trace amount of iron is capable of catalysing oxidation of the oil or fat.

[0058] Degumming is performed by washing the feed at 90-105° C., 300-500 kPa(a), with H.sub.3PO.sub.4, NaOH and soft water and separating the formed gums. A major amount of metal components, which are harmful for the hydrotreatment catalyst, are also removed from the feedstock during the degumming stage. The moisture content of the degummed oil is reduced in dryer at 90-105° C., 5-50 kPa(a).

[0059] A feedstock, which is optionally degummed or refined in another conventional way, may be bleached. In the bleaching the degummed or refined feedstock is heated and mixed with natural or acid-activated bleaching clay. Bleaching removes various impurity traces left from other pretreatment steps like degumming, such as chlorophyll, carotenoids, phosphoipids, metals, soaps and oxidation products. Bleaching is typically carried out under vacuum to minimize possible oxidation. Generally the goal of bleaching is to reduce the color pigments in order to produce an oil of acceptable color and to reduce the oxidation tendency of oil.

[0060] Optionally the triglyceride structures of the feedstock may be decomposed by prehydrogenating the double bonds using reduced reaction temperature with NiMo or other catalyst, prior to the of by hydrodeoxygenations in order to prevent double bond polymerisation of unsaturated triglycerides.

[0061] The process according to the invention is particularly advantageous when the fresh feed contains more than 5% of free fatty acids and even more than 10% of free fatty acids. Thus also naturally occurring fats and oils containing significant amounts of free fatty acids can be processed without the removal of free fatty acids.

[0062] In the following the process according to the invention comprising a hydrotreating step and an isomerisation step is described in more detail.

Hydrotreating of Bio Oils and Fats

[0063] In the first step of the process, i.e. in the hydrotreating step, fatty acids, triglycerides and other fatty acid derivatives comprised in the feed are deoxygenated, denitrogenated and desulphurisated.

[0064] The feed comprises fresh feed and at least one dilution agent and the ratio of the dilution agent/fresh feed is 5-30:1, preferably 10-30:1, most preferably 12-25:1.

[0065] The dilution agent is selected from hydrocarbons and recycled product of the process i.e. product recycle or mixtures thereof.

[0066] In the hydrotreating step, the pressure range may be varied between 20 and 150 bar, preferably between 50 and 100 bar, and the temperature between 200 and 400° C., preferably between 250 and 350° C. and most preferably between 280 and 340° C.

[0067] It was found that the selectivity of decarb-reactions and the deoxygenation through decarb-reactions can be promoted during hydrotreating over the hydrotreatment catalyst, by using sulphur content of 50-20000 w-ppm, preferably 1000-8000 w-ppm, most preferably 2000-5000 w-ppm of sulphur in the total feed, calculated as elemental sulphur. The specific sulphur content in the feed is able to double the extent of n-paraffins formed by removal of COx. Complete deoxygenation of triglycerides by decarb-reactions can theoretically lower the consumption of hydrogen about 60% (max) compared with pure deoxygenation by hydrogen.

[0068] At least one organic or inorganic sulphur compound may optionally be fed along with hydrogen or with the feed to achieve the desired sulphur content. The inorganic sulphur compound can be for example H.sub.2S or elemental sulphur or the sulphur compound may be an easily decomposable organic sulphur compound such as dimethyl disulphide, carbon disulfide and butyl thiol or a mixture of easily decomposable organic sulphur compounds. It is also possible to use refinery gas or liquid streams containing decomposable sulphur compounds.

[0069] In the hydrotreatment/hydrodeoxygenation step, known hydrogenation catalysts containing metals from Group VIII and/or VIB of the Periodic System may be used. Preferably, the hydrogenation catalysts are supported Pd, Pt, Ni, NiMo or a CoMo catalyst, the support being alumina and/or silica, as described for instance in FI 100248. Typically, NiMo/Al.sub.2O.sub.3 and CoMo/Al.sub.2O.sub.3 catalysts are used.

[0070] In order to control the increase of temperature resulting from the aforementioned reactions over catalyst beds and side reaction formation, an improved reactor configuration is presented in FIG. 1. The hydrotreatment section comprises one or more catalyst beds in series, dilution agent introduction on the top of the first catalyst bed and fresh feed, recycle liquid and hydrogen introduction on top of each catalyst beds. If the dilution agent is product recycle, the product recycle/fresh oil-ratio is from 5-30:1, preferably 10-30:1 and most preferably 12-25:1. The catalyst beds can be located in same pressure vessel or each bed in a separate pressure vessel. Hydrogen is fed in excess to the theoretical chemical hydrogen consumption and the feedstock is converted totally or almost totally within each catalyst bed. Using these procedures, harmful, partially converted product intermediates are avoided, the temperature needed for reaction initiation is achieved in the beginning of each catalyst bed, the rise of reaction heating is controlled in the catalyst beds and the catalyst life is improved considerably.

[0071] Hydrodeoxygenation of triglycerides facilitates controlled decomposition of the triglyceride molecule contrary to uncontrolled cracking. Double bonds are also hydrogenated during the controlled hydrotreatment. Light hydrocarbons and gases formed, mainly propane, water, CO.sub.2, CO, H.sub.2S and NH.sub.3 are removed from the hydrotreated product.

[0072] It was surprisingly observed in examples that product recycle dilution can prevent or remarkably decrease the reactions between free fatty acids and the formation of high molecular weight compounds during hydrotreating, when at least 5:1 (product recycle):(fresh oil)-ratio was used. The effect of product recycle is based on two phenomena: dilution effect of recycle and more controllable and reduced reaction temperatures used over catalyst bed during hydrodeoxygenation. Higher temperatures and especially hot spots of catalyst bed promote ketonisation reactions. Due to this invention, it is possible to use various sources of bio oils and fats without the need to remove fatty acids. After the hydrotreatment step, the product is subjected to an isomerization step.

Isomerisation of n-Paraffins Formed During Hydrotreatment

[0073] In the second step of the process, i.e. in the isomerization step, isomerization is carried out which causes branching of the hydrocarbon chain and results in improved performance of the product oil at low temperatures. The isomerisation produces predominantly methyl branches. The severity of isomerisation conditions and choice of catalyst controls the amount of methyl branches formed and their distance from each other and therefore cold properties of bio diesel fraction produced. The product obtained from the hydrotreatment step is isomerised under isomerisation conditions with an isomerisation catalyst.

[0074] In the process according to the invention, the feed into the isomerisation reactor is a mixture of pure n-paraffins and the composition of it can be predicted from the fatty acid distribution of individual bio oils. During the hydrotreating step of the process, triglyceride oils and other fatty acid derivatives and fatty acids are almost theoretically converted to n-paraffins. Additionally propane is formed from the glycerol part of triglycerides, water and COx from carboxylic oxygen, H.sub.2S from organic sulphur compounds and NH.sub.3 from organic nitrogen compounds. It is substantial for the process that these gas phase impurities are removed as completely as possible before the hydrocarbons are contacted with the isomerization catalyst.

[0075] The isomerization step may comprise an optional stripping step, wherein the reaction product from the hydrotreatment step may be purified by stripping with water vapour or a suitable gas such as light hydrocarbon, nitrogen or hydrogen. The optional stripping step is carried out in counter-current manner in a unit upstream of the isomerization catalyst, wherein the gas and liquid are contacted with each other, or before the actual isomerization reactor in a separate stripping unit utilizing the counter-current principle.

[0076] In the isomerisation step, the pressure varies in the range of 20-150 bar, preferably in the range of 30-100 bar and the temperature varies between 200 and 500° C., preferably between 280 and 400° C.

[0077] In the isomerisation step, isomerisation catalysts known in the art may be used. Suitable isomerisation catalysts contain a molecular sieve and/or a metal selected from Group VIII of the Periodic Table and/or a carrier. Preferably, the isomerisation catalyst contains SAPO-11 or SAPO-41 or ZSM-22 or ZSM-23 or ferrierite and Pt, Pd or Ni and Al.sub.2O.sub.3 or SiO.sub.2. Typical isomerization catalysts are, for example, Pt/SAPO-1l/Al.sub.2O.sub.3, Pt/ZSM-22/Al.sub.2O.sub.3, Pt/ZSM-23/Al.sub.2O.sub.3 and Pt/SAPO-11/SiO.sub.2. Most of these catalysts require the presence of hydrogen to reduce the catalyst deactivation.

[0078] An isomerised product, which is a mixture of branched hydrocarbons and preferably branched paraffins boiling in the range of 180-350° C., the diesel fuel range, and having one carbon atom less than the original fatty acid chain, is obtained. Additionally some gasoline and gas may be obtained.

Advantages of the Invention

[0079] The invention provides a method for reducing the formation of higher molecular weight compounds during the hydrotreatment of a feed obtained from plant oils and animal fats and which may contain free fatty acids.

[0080] It was surprisingly found that the problems of prior art processes may be avoided or at least significantly reduced by the improved process according to the invention, comprising a hydrotreatment step and an isomerisation step wherein product recycle or another dilution agent in the hydrotreatment step in combination with reduced operation temperature result in important improvements, particularly when the fresh feed contains more than 5 wt % of free fatty acids. A special reactor configuration and high dilution of fresh feed introduced into hydrotreatment are used in the method. The extent of side reactions is decreased and the stability of catalyst during hydrotreating is increased during the hydrotreatment step.

[0081] In the examples it was be seen that the ratio of at least 5:1 (recycle:fresh) significantly decreased the formation of high molecular weight products, when the feedstock contains 10 wt-% of free fatty acids (calculated from fresh oil) is used. Using at least 5:1 recycle ratio and reduced reaction temperature, free fatty acids can be processed without the need for deacidification. High quality hydrocarbons are obtained, suitable for the diesel fuel pool with high yield.

[0082] The invention is illustrated in the following with examples presenting some preferable embodiments of the invention. However, it is evident to a man skilled in the art that the scope of the invention is not meant to be limited to these examples.

EXAMPLES

[0083] All hydrotreatment tests were performed in the presence of hydrogen.

Example 1. Comparative Example

Tali Oil Feed (100% Free Fatty Acids) without Product Recycle

[0084] Hydrotreating of tall oil (100% free fatty acids) with NiMo catalyst was carried out at 50 bars pressure, LHSV 1.5 and reaction temperatures from 340-360° C. without product recycle. Hydrogen oil ratio was 900 normal liters H.sub.2 per liter oil fed. The hydrotreating of tall oil 100% free fatty acid feed caused rapid deactivation of NiMo catalyst, and formation of heavy weight compounds and aromatics was observed. Bromine indexes increased during the run even if temperature compensation of catalyst was used (FIG. 8). Product oil contained about 7 wt-% aromatics and about 7 wt-% heavies (>375° C. boiling). Density (50° C.) of product oil was high 777.1 kg/m3 compared to typical values with rapeseed oil hydrotreated product oil (761-762 kg/m3) using lower reaction temperature and optimized reaction conditions.

Example 2. Comparative Example

Tall Oil Fatty Acid Feed (100% FFA) at High Reaction Temperatures without Product Recycle

[0085] Hydrotreating of tall oil fatty acid feed (100% FFA) at high reaction temperatures 370-385° C. was carried out without product recycle. Rapid deactivation of NiMo catalyst and formation of heavy weight compounds and aromatics was observed. Density of hydrotreated oil (table 1) was significantly higher than in rapeseed oil runs (typically 761-762 kg/m3). Both oils contained mainly C18 fatty acids (˜90-wt-%) and rather steady formation of water was observed during run. During the tall oil hydrotreating about 7-8 wt-% heavier molecular weight compounds and 8.1 wt-% aromatics were formed. These side reactions are caused by concentrated fatty acid feed and too high reaction temperatures. Deactivation of catalyst is clearly seen from increasing bromine indexes. During the satisfactory operation bromine index should be below 50. Table 1 describes densities, bromine indexes, reaction temperatures and water formed during test runs for 2 to 14 days using tall oil fatty acid feed (100% FFA) without recycling.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Duration of 2nd 4th 6th 9th 11th 12th 13th 14th test run day day day day day day day day Temperature, ° C. 370 375 378 381 385 385 385 385 Density, 50° C., kg/m3 771.8 773.1 773.7 776.5 779.1 779.8 780.5 781.2 Bromine index 101 150 188 198 247 269 300 330 Product water, % 9.37 9.5 9.81 10.3 10.2 10.0 10.1 10.2

Example 3. Comparative Example

Effect of Metal Impurities of Bio Oils on the Catalyst Performance

[0086] Tube reactor hydrotreatment test runs were carried out using crude rapeseed oil, crude animal fat and purified rapeseed oil. Analysis of these feeds are shown in Table 2. Crude feeds contained significant amount of metals, organic phosphorus, sulphur and nitrogen compounds. Purified feeds contained only trace levels of these impurities

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Impurity levels of crude and purified plant oils and animal fats Crude Purified Crude Rapeseed Rapeseed Animal Impurity Unit oil oil fat Metals (total) ppm 90 ~0 162 Org.nitrogen ppm 33 7.2 1125 Free Fatty acid, GPC Wt-% 0.8 0.7 10.8 Total Acid Number mg KOH/g 1.0 0.1 21.5 Phosphorous ppm 110 <1 86 Sulphur (original) ppm 3 1 85

[0087] Test runs using crude, unpurified oils/fats showed that catalyst needed higher temperatures to work properly, but gradually lost its activity (FIG. 5). Triglycerides and increased bromine number of product oil was found. High amount of metals were also detected on to the catalyst. Temperature profile of the catalyst bed showed that top of the catalyst bed was deactivated and reaction section moved forward (FIG. 4), when reactor heating was maintained steady. Metals adsorbed on to the catalyst also promote side reactions like decarb-reactions.

[0088] First hydrotreatment test run was carried out using crude rapeseed oil. Purified rapeseed oil was used as a reference feed. Purified rapeseed oil achieved complete HDO conversion at 305° C. using WHSV=2. Crude rapeseed oil gave total HDO conversion not until reaction temperature 330° C. was used with space velocity WHSV=1. It was however seen from temperature profiles over the catalyst bed that first part of catalyst was deactivated very quickly. In FIG. 4, reaction temperature profile over catalyst bed and performance of crude rapeseed oil are presented.

[0089] Second hydrotreatment test run was carried out using purified rapeseed oil and crude animal fat. Purified rapeseed oil was used as a reference feed. Purified rapeseed oil with product recycle achieved complete HDO conversion at 305° C. using WHSV=1. Crude animal fat with product recycle did not give complete HDO conversion at 305° C. using WHSV=1. It was seen from GPC analyses that product oil contained triglycerides and catalyst also significantly deactivated during crude animal fat feed. Pumping problems was also observed during crude animal fat feeding. Performance of crude animal fat is presented in FIG. 5.

Example 4. Comparative Example

Effect of Free Fatty Adds (10 wt-% in Fresh Feed) on the Formation of High Molecular Weight Hydrocarbons

[0090] Hydrotreatment was carried out using purified rapeseed oil as reference feed without product recycle. A test run was carried out at 305° C. and 50 bars pressure using WHSV=1 and H.sub.2/oil-ratio=1000. Sulphur content of feed was 570 ppm. During a second hydrotreatment test period stearic acid was fed (10 wt-% from rapeseed oil) along with purified rapeseed oil using same reaction conditions without product recycle. It was right away observed that the extent of high molecular weight compounds increased gradually from initial level ˜3 wt-% to ˜8 wt-%. These higher molecular weight compounds (molecular weight double or more of the feed) are not in the boiling range of diesel fuel and thus decrease diesel yield and potentially shorten the catalyst life. Thus free fatty acids in bio oils make their processing more difficult. In FIG. 2 the increase of formation of high molecular weight hydrocarbons is observed, when 10 wt-% free fatty acids was fed along with purified rapeseed oil triglycerides without product recycle.

Example 5

Effect of Product Recycle on Preventing Formation of Unwanted Heavy Side Reaction Compounds when the Feed Contained 10 wt-% Free Fatty Acids

[0091] A hydrotreatment test run was carried out using 10 wt-% stearic acid containing purified rapeseed oil as reference feed without product recycle under following reaction conditions: WHSV=1.50 bars, 305° C., H2/oil-ratio=1000 and sulphur content of feed=570 ppm. During the second hydrotreatment test run period same feed was diluted with product hydrocarbons so that (fresh oil)/(product recycle)-ratio was 1:5. WHSV of fresh oil was maintained at 1, therefore WHSV of total oil feed increased to 6. The reaction temperature was kept at 305° C. and reaction pressure at 50 bars. H.sub.2/(fresh oil)-ratio was maintained at 1000. HDO product (n-paraffins) simulated product recycle, which was mixed in advance with fresh oil. The initial content of heavy hydrocarbons in the recycle was ˜0.4 wt-%.

[0092] It was unexpectedly observed that the formation of heavy hydrocarbons was almost totally prevented or at least very significantly decreased when product recycle was used (FIG. 3). This is most probably caused by significantly diminished side reactions of free fatty acids wherein a carboxylic acid molecule can react with another carboxylic acid molecule to form a higher molecular weight compounds. In FIG. 3 the effect of product recycle on preventing the formation of unwanted higher molecular weight by-product is presented. Table 3 presents analysis results of the feed and products.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Analysis results of the feed and products Product analyses Feed analyses AR + 10 AR + 10 AR + 10 AR wt-% stearic wt-% SA + wt-% SA + Recycle AR (10% SA) + acid without Recycle after Recycle after Property Method Units AR feed (10% SA) REC 1:5 recycle 196 hours 552 hours Density, 15° C. calc. D 4052 kg/m.sup.3 920.4 788.1 915.8 807.2 790.8 788.3 788.3 Density, 50° C. D 4053 kg/m.sup.3 897.6 761.4 893.2 781.2 764.2 761.7 761.7 Br-index D 2750 mg/100 g 53.7 21.5 26 Br number D 1159 g/100 g 56 49.1 6.3 Iodinenumber D 5554 g/100 g 112 103 18 HC GPC area-% 99.6 83.0 94.3 99.6 99.6 Fatty acids GPC area-% 0.7 0 10.6 1.8 0 0 0 Heavy HC GPC area-% 0 0.4 0.5 5.7 0.4 0.4 Diglycerides GPC area-% 2.3 0 2.4 0 0 0 Triglycerides GPC area-% 97 0 87 14.7 0 0 0 SA = Stearic acid, AR = purified rapeseed oil, REC = product recycle, HC = hydrocarbons, heavy HC = high molecular weight hydrocarbons

Example 6. Comparative Example

The Effect of Lower Reaction Temperature on the Selectivity of n-Paraffins and Oil Yield

[0093] Studies were carried out with NiMo catalyst using rapeseed oil as feed and reaction temperatures 280-330° C. and 340-360° C., WHSV=1 and reactor pressure of 50 bars. Alkali raffinated rapeseed oil triglycerides contained mainly C.sub.18 fatty acids. C.sub.18 fatty acids contributed about 89 wt-% of all fatty acids in rapeseed oil. Theoretical amount of n-paraffins formed from rapeseed oil fed is about 86.4 wt-% (calculated from rapeseed oil fed).

[0094] Complete HDO conversion with almost theoretical n-paraffin yield was accomplished, when well controlled reaction temperatures <330° C. were used. Almost theoretical n-paraffin yields tell us from complete HDO conversion and very controllable operation without significant side reactions. High amount of side reactions (cyclisation, aromatisation and cracking) and low n-paraffin yield were observed when unnecessary high reaction temperatures 340-360° C. was used. In FIG. 6 the conversion of rapeseed oil triglycerides to n-paraffins is presented.

Example 7

Stability of Catalyst

[0095] The stability of NiMo-catalyst using palm oil model feed (impurities added) along with product recycle (catalyst life test) was carried out using following reaction conditions: Reaction temperature=300-305° C., Reactor pressure=40 bars, WHSV (fresh)=0.5, WHSV (total)=3, H.sub.2/Oil (fresh)=900, Sulphur in feed=100 w-ppm. Palm oil was used as a main component of feed, but it was modified with animal fat, fractions of free fatty acids, crude rapeseed oil, and lecithin in order to get suitable specification of impurities of test feed. Fresh feed analysis is presented below in table 4. Fresh oil was then diluted in advance with 1:5 ratio of HDO product (simulates product recycle). The duration of test run was over 9 months. Stabile operation was maintained (table 4 and FIG. 7) and the formation of heavies was steady over the whole test run FIG. 7.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Stability of catalyst Product oil analysis Run duration Fresh Feed 383 1898 3408 5601 Analysis Method Unit analysis hours hours hours hours Density, 15° C. D 4052 kg/m.sup.3 804.9 787.4 785.6 785.3 784.9 Density, 50° C. D 4052 kg/m.sup.3 778.8 760.7 758.9 758.6 758.1 Br-index D 2710 mg/100 g 29200 33 48 33 11 HC GPC area-% 0 99.3 99.4 99.3 99.4 Fatty acids GPC area-% 1.2 0 0 0 0 Monoglyc/high GPC area-% 0.3 0.7 0.6 0.7 0.6 molec. weight HC Diglycerides GPC area-% 6.3 0 0 0 0 Triglycerides GPC area-% 92.1 0 0 0 0 TAN D664 mg KOH/g 2.1 ~0 ~0 ~0 ~0 Sulphur D 5453 ppm 3 1.2 2.0 2.7 2 Nitrogen D4629 mg/kg 6 <1 <1 1.2 <1 Sodium, oil AAS mg/kg 3 0.4 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 Calcium, oil AAS mg/kg 2 0.3 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 Magnesium, oil AAS mg/kg 0.3 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 Molybdenum, oil AAS mg/kg — <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 <0.5 Aluminum, oil ICP metals mg/kg <2 <2 <2 <2 <2 Iron, oil ICP metals mg/kg <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 Nickel, oil ICP metals mg/kg <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 Phosphorus, oil ICP metals mg/kg 4 <1 <1 <1 <1