Produce Low Aromatic Contents with Enhanced Cold Properties of Hydrotreated Renewable Diesel Using Pt/Alumina-Beta-Zeolite: Reaction Path Studied via Monoaromatic Model Compound

• Main Authors: Shanmugam Palanisamy, Börje Sten Gevert, Pranav Sankaran, Kannan Kandasamy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-07-01
• Series: Energies
• Subjects: hydro-isomerisation; hydrocracking; dearomatisation; diesel; <i>H</i>-beta-zeolite
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/15/2853

In this present work, Hydro-dearomatisation of toluene and hydro-isomerisation of n-hexadecane (n-C₁₆) in ultralow sulphur diesel (ULSD) using Pt-Cl/H-Beta and Pt/<i>H</i>-Beta catalyst was investigated in a continuous down-flow trickle-bed reactor (DFTBR), and the physicochemical properties of products were studied. The catalytic effect on 40:60 wt% of <i>H</i>-beta-zeolite (<i>H</i>-&#946;) and binder&#8722;aluminahydrochlorite extruded was characterized in scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption and coke testing. The study showed that 80 to 95 wt% of middle distillates recovered in ULSD on elevated temperature between 230 and 270 &#176;C at 5 MPa. With a higher residence time of feed, the middle distillate recovered with 2.2 <i>v</i>/<i>v</i>% of aromatics and &#8722;32 &#176;C of cloud point. In the model compound investigation of toluene and n-C₁₆, it was observed that absorption of aromatic ring inhibits the rate of isomerisation; particularly it reduces the yield of branching and rearrangement of n-C₁₆. Also, Cl-incorporated <i>H</i>-&#946; extrudate enhanced the ring saturation and suppressed the reaction path in oligomerisation and cyclisation of paraffin. This methodology achieved asingle-stage upgrading technique involved in the delivery of commercial diesel in the market with low cloud point and aromatic content.