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Title: Upgrading of coal liquids. Hydrotreating and fluid catalytic cracking of EDS process derived gas oils. Interim report

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5723609· OSTI ID:5723609

The objective of this work was to evaluate the applicability of commercial UOP hydrotreating and fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) processes to distillate liquids derived from the Exxon Donor Solvent (EDS) process. Feedstocks were derived from the 400 to 1000/sup 0/F (204-538/sup 0/C) fraction of the new EDS product. Five different feedstocks, ranging in hydrogen content from 7.41 to 11.95 wt % were prepared by batch vacuum flash distillation or by catalytic hydrotreating in research pilot plants. Rerunning the raw feed to remove 18.7 wt % bottoms failed to eliminate heptane insolubles. Therefore, a UOP black oil conversion catalyst, known to be effective in reducing heptane insolubles, was selected for hydrotreating the raw stock. Results of fluid catalytic cracking in a research scale riser cracker unit showed that feed hydrogen content is a dominant factor in conversion and yield structure. Hydrotreating substantially improved the cracking characteristics of the EDS liquid product. As more hydrogen was added, conversion and gasoline yield increased and carbon deposition decreased. Gasoline research octane numbers of 95-101 were obtained. Cycle oils containing 650/sup 0/F/sup -/ distillate as high as 85 vol % were generated. The lighter portions of the cycle oil, boiling between 400 to 650/sup 0/F, are valuable components of distillate fuels and heating oils. It is concluded that, with an appropriate degree of hydrotreatment, the EDS process derived gas oil, or any other coal derived distillate of similar quality, can be readily processed into high quality gasolines by applying advanced commercial fluid catalytic cracking technology. The fluid catalytic cracker, in conjunction with a hydrotreater, shows potential to play a major role in future commercial refining of coal derived liquids.

Research Organization:
UOP, Inc., Des Plaines, IL (USA). Corporate Research Center
DOE Contract Number:
EF-77-C-01-2566
OSTI ID:
5723609
Report Number(s):
FE-2566-30
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English