A Comparative study on hydrocracking and hydrovisbreaking combination for heavy vacuum residue conversion

A Comparative study on hydrocracking and hydrovisbreaking combination for heavy vacuum residue conversion

Type	Journal Article
Author	M. F. Menoufy
Author	H. S. Ahmed
Author	M. A. Betiha
Author	M. A. Sayed
URL	http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016236113010636
Volume	119
Pages	106-110
Publication	Fuel
Date	March 1, 2014
Abstract	Reports study of upgrading of heavy vacuum residue (302.3 ppm Ni + V, 4.36 wt% S, and 13 wt% asphaltenes) into lighter fuels in a batch autoclave reactor by hydroconversions over bifunctional sulfided catalyst W–Ni–P/SiO2–Al2O3, at various reaction temperatures, 350–425 °C and 12 MPa hydrogen pressure. The activity of the sulfided catalyst towards hydrocracking reactions scheme alone was compared to a combination scheme to produce light fractions suitable for automotive fuels. The catalyst yielded, at higher temperature 425 °C, about 80% feedstock conversion, 5% coke make, 98% hydrodesulfurization (HDS) and 73% asphaltenes reduction, when applying the combination scheme, compared with hydrocracking alone. The presence of hydrogen in the hydrovisbreaking reaction medium was necessary to limit coke production. Results suggest that hydrovisbreaking is a viable alternate treatment option for heavy vacuum residue prior to hydrocracking process.