Co-Hydroprocessing of Fossil Middle Distillate and Bio-Derived Durene-Rich Heavy Ends under Hydrotreating Conditions
Methanol-to-gasoline (MTG) and dimethyl ether-to-gasoline (DTG), as industrially approved processes for producing greenhouse gas-neutral gasoline, yield byproducts rich in heavy mono-ring aromatics such as 1,2,4,5-tetramethylbenzene (durene). Due to its tendency to crystallize and the overall poor f...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2624-781X/4/3/32 |
| _version_ | 1797577392813768704 |
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| author | David Graf Johannes Waßmuth Reinhard Rauch |
| author_facet | David Graf Johannes Waßmuth Reinhard Rauch |
| author_sort | David Graf |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Methanol-to-gasoline (MTG) and dimethyl ether-to-gasoline (DTG), as industrially approved processes for producing greenhouse gas-neutral gasoline, yield byproducts rich in heavy mono-ring aromatics such as 1,2,4,5-tetramethylbenzene (durene). Due to its tendency to crystallize and the overall poor fuel performance, the heavy fuel fraction is usually further processed using after-treatment units designed for this purpose. This research article discusses the co-hydroprocessing (HP) of bio-derived heavy gasoline (HG) with fossil middle distillate (MD), drawing on available refinery hydrotreaters. Co-HP experiments were conducted in a laboratory-scale fixed bed reactor using an industrial CoMo/<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>γ</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>-Al<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mrow></mrow><mn>2</mn></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula>O<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mrow></mrow><mn>3</mn></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> catalyst, varying the space-time between 0.7 and 4.0 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msubsup><mi>cm</mi><mrow><mi>C</mi><mi>a</mi><mi>t</mi></mrow><mn>3</mn></msubsup></semantics></math></inline-formula> h <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msubsup><mi>cm</mi><mrow><mi>F</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>d</mi></mrow><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>3</mn></mrow></msubsup></semantics></math></inline-formula> and the reaction temperature between 340 and 390 °C. In addition to the durene conversion, special attention was paid to the octane and cetane numbers (CN) of gasoline and MD, respectively. A six-lump model with ten parameters was developed to predict relevant fuel yields dependent on the process conditions. Under stable catalyst conditions, C<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mrow></mrow><mn>10</mn></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> aromatic conversions of more than 60% were obtained, while the CN remained close to that of pure MD. Harsh process conditions increased the gasoline yield up to 20% at the cost of MD, while the kerosene yield remained almost constant. With an optimized lumping model, fuel yields could be predicted with an R<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow></mrow><mn>2</mn></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula> of 0.998. In this study, co-HP heavy aromatic-rich MTG/DTG fuels with fossil MD were proven to be a promising process strategy compared to a stand-alone after-treatment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:07:37Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2624-781X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:07:37Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Reactions |
| spelling | doaj.art-ad14fcb0ad2548bfaf5f08a69afaa13a2023-11-19T12:44:42ZengMDPI AGReactions2624-781X2023-09-014353155110.3390/reactions4030032Co-Hydroprocessing of Fossil Middle Distillate and Bio-Derived Durene-Rich Heavy Ends under Hydrotreating ConditionsDavid Graf0Johannes Waßmuth1Reinhard Rauch2Engler-Bunte-Institute–Division of Fuel Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Engler-Bunte-Ring 1a, 76131 Karlsruhe, GermanyEngler-Bunte-Institute–Division of Fuel Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Engler-Bunte-Ring 1a, 76131 Karlsruhe, GermanyEngler-Bunte-Institute–Division of Fuel Technology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Engler-Bunte-Ring 1a, 76131 Karlsruhe, GermanyMethanol-to-gasoline (MTG) and dimethyl ether-to-gasoline (DTG), as industrially approved processes for producing greenhouse gas-neutral gasoline, yield byproducts rich in heavy mono-ring aromatics such as 1,2,4,5-tetramethylbenzene (durene). Due to its tendency to crystallize and the overall poor fuel performance, the heavy fuel fraction is usually further processed using after-treatment units designed for this purpose. This research article discusses the co-hydroprocessing (HP) of bio-derived heavy gasoline (HG) with fossil middle distillate (MD), drawing on available refinery hydrotreaters. Co-HP experiments were conducted in a laboratory-scale fixed bed reactor using an industrial CoMo/<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mi>γ</mi></semantics></math></inline-formula>-Al<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mrow></mrow><mn>2</mn></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula>O<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mrow></mrow><mn>3</mn></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> catalyst, varying the space-time between 0.7 and 4.0 <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msubsup><mi>cm</mi><mrow><mi>C</mi><mi>a</mi><mi>t</mi></mrow><mn>3</mn></msubsup></semantics></math></inline-formula> h <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msubsup><mi>cm</mi><mrow><mi>F</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>d</mi></mrow><mrow><mo>−</mo><mn>3</mn></mrow></msubsup></semantics></math></inline-formula> and the reaction temperature between 340 and 390 °C. In addition to the durene conversion, special attention was paid to the octane and cetane numbers (CN) of gasoline and MD, respectively. A six-lump model with ten parameters was developed to predict relevant fuel yields dependent on the process conditions. Under stable catalyst conditions, C<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mrow></mrow><mn>10</mn></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> aromatic conversions of more than 60% were obtained, while the CN remained close to that of pure MD. Harsh process conditions increased the gasoline yield up to 20% at the cost of MD, while the kerosene yield remained almost constant. With an optimized lumping model, fuel yields could be predicted with an R<inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msup><mrow></mrow><mn>2</mn></msup></semantics></math></inline-formula> of 0.998. In this study, co-HP heavy aromatic-rich MTG/DTG fuels with fossil MD were proven to be a promising process strategy compared to a stand-alone after-treatment.https://www.mdpi.com/2624-781X/4/3/32co-hydroprocessingdurenerefinerysustainable fuelsupgrading |
| spellingShingle | David Graf Johannes Waßmuth Reinhard Rauch Co-Hydroprocessing of Fossil Middle Distillate and Bio-Derived Durene-Rich Heavy Ends under Hydrotreating Conditions Reactions co-hydroprocessing durene refinery sustainable fuels upgrading |
| title | Co-Hydroprocessing of Fossil Middle Distillate and Bio-Derived Durene-Rich Heavy Ends under Hydrotreating Conditions |
| title_full | Co-Hydroprocessing of Fossil Middle Distillate and Bio-Derived Durene-Rich Heavy Ends under Hydrotreating Conditions |
| title_fullStr | Co-Hydroprocessing of Fossil Middle Distillate and Bio-Derived Durene-Rich Heavy Ends under Hydrotreating Conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Co-Hydroprocessing of Fossil Middle Distillate and Bio-Derived Durene-Rich Heavy Ends under Hydrotreating Conditions |
| title_short | Co-Hydroprocessing of Fossil Middle Distillate and Bio-Derived Durene-Rich Heavy Ends under Hydrotreating Conditions |
| title_sort | co hydroprocessing of fossil middle distillate and bio derived durene rich heavy ends under hydrotreating conditions |
| topic | co-hydroprocessing durene refinery sustainable fuels upgrading |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2624-781X/4/3/32 |
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