Abstract: A process has been developed for producing diesel boiling range fuel from renewable feedstocks such as plant and animal fats and oils. The process involves treating a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating i.e. decarboxylating, decarbonylating, and hydrodeoxygenating to provide a hydrocarbon fraction useful as a diesel boiling range fuel. A sulfur containing component is added to drive the conversion preferentially through carbonylation and carbonylation with reduced hydrodeoxygenation. If desired, the hydrocarbon fraction can be isomerized to improve cold flow properties.

Abstract: Methods of hydroprocessing hydrocarbon streams are provided that employ substantially liquid-phase hydroprocessing conditions. In one aspect, the method includes directing a hydrocarbonaceous feed stock to a first substantially liquid-phase hydroprocessing zone wherein an effluent from the first substantially liquid-phase hydroprocessing zone is directed to a second substantially liquid-phase hydroprocessing zone generally undiluted with other hydrocarbon streams. In another aspect, the method recycles a liquid portion of a liquid hydrocarbonaceous effluent from the second substantially liquid-phase hydroprocessing zone, which preferably includes an amount of hydrogen dissolved therein, to the hydrocarbonaceous feed stock so that the feed to the first substantially liquid-phase hydroprocessing zone has a relatively larger concentration of dissolved hydrogen relative to the hydrocarbonaceous feed stock.

Abstract: A process is provided for improving the cold flow properties of a hydrocarbon stream employing a substantially liquid-phase continuous hydroisomerization zone where the reaction zone has a substantially constant level of dissolved hydrogen throughout without the addition of additional hydrogen external to the reaction zone.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing low sulfur diesel having a high cetane number where the temperature and pressure requirements for obtaining low levels of sulfur is separated from the temperature and pressure requirements for improving cetane. In one aspect, a low pressure hydrodesulfurization zone and a high pressure aromatic saturation zone are employed to sequentially achieve the desired sulfur and cetane levels. In another aspect, the process first converts a diesel boiling range hydrocarbonaceous stream in a hydrotreating zone at conditions effective to produce a hydrotreating zone effluent having a reduced concentration of sulfur with minimal saturation of aromatics. Hydrogen is then admixed with the hydrotreating zone effluent, which is then reacted in a substantially liquid-phase continuous reaction zone substantially undiluted with other streams to effect saturation of aromatics to provide a liquid-phase continuous reaction zone effluent having an improved cetane number.

Abstract: Methods of hydrocracking hydrocarbon streams are provided that employ substantially liquid-phase continuous hydroprocessing conditions. In one aspect, the method includes a separate hydrotreating and hydrocracking system where the hydrocracking zone is a substantially liquid-phase continuous system. In another aspect, the method includes a two-stage hydrocracking system where one or both of the hydrocracking zones is a substantially liquid-phase continuous reaction system.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing low sulfur diesel having a reduced poly-aromatic level where at least a portion of the poly-aromatics are converted to mono-aromatics. In one aspect, the process separates the temperature and pressure requirements for obtaining low levels of sulfur from the temperature and pressure requirements to saturate poly-aromatics to mono-aromatics. By one approach, the process first converts a diesel boiling range hydrocarbon stream in a hydrotreating zone at conditions effective to produce a hydrotreating zone effluent having a reduced concentration of sulfur with minimal saturation of poly-aromatics. Hydrogen is then admixed in the hydrotreating zone effluent or at least a portion thereof, which is then reacted in a substantially liquid-phase continuous reaction zone to effect saturation of poly-aromatics to provide a liquid-phase continuous reaction zone effluent having a reduced level of poly-aromatics relative to the diesel feed.

Abstract: A process has been developed for producing diesel boiling range fuel from renewable feedstocks such as plant and animal fats and oils. The process involves treating a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating to provide a hydrocarbon fraction useful as a diesel boiling range fuel. Water is added to the deoxygenation reaction to drive carbon monoxide and water to react to form hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The hydrogen is then consumed by the reactions. If desired, the hydrocarbon fraction can be isomerized to improve cold flow properties.

Abstract: A process has been developed for producing diesel boiling range fuel from renewable feedstocks such as plant oils and animal oils, fats, and greases. The process involves treating a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating i.e. decarboxylating, decarbonylating, and/or hydrodeoxygenating to provide a hydrocarbon fraction useful as a diesel boiling range fuel or diesel boiling range fuel blending component. If desired, the hydrocarbon fraction can be isomerized to improve cold flow properties. A portion of the hydrogenated and deoxygenated feedstock is selectively separated and then recycled to the treatment zone to increase the hydrogen solubility of the reaction mixture.

Abstract: A process has been developed for producing diesel boiling range fuel from renewable feedstocks such as plant oils, animal fats and oils, and greases. The process involves treating a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating to provide a diesel boiling range fuel hydrocarbon product. If desired, the hydrocarbon product can be isomerized to improve cold flow properties. A portion of the hydrocarbon product is recycled to the treatment zone to increase the hydrogen solubility of the reaction mixture.

Abstract: In one aspect, a hydrodesulfurization process is provided that selectively desulfurizes a hydrocarbon stream with minimal olefin saturation and minimal recombination of sulfur into mercaptans. In another aspect, the process includes a multi-stage reaction zone including at least first and second serial hydrodesulfurization reaction zones that sequentially remove sulfur from a hydrocarbon stream. In yet another aspect, the process is particularly suited to selectively desulfurize an olefinic naphtha hydrocarbon stream, such as FCC naphtha, steam cracked naphtha, coker naphtha, or other gasoline boiling hydrocarbon streams.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a petroleum distillate product is provided, the method includes subjecting an untreated light Fischer-Tropsch liquid to a two-step hydrogenation process, each step to be carried in the presence of a catalyst comprising an amorphous substrate having a metallic composition embedded therein. After the first step of hydrogenation, an intermediate hydrotreated light Fischer-Tropsch liquid is obtained, followed by the second step of hydrogenation thereof, obtaining the petroleum distillate product as a result. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also provided.

Abstract: A process is provided to produce an ultra low sulfur diesel with less than about 10 ppm sulfur using a two-phase or liquid-phase continuous reaction zone to convert a diesel boiling range distillate preferably obtained from a mild hydrocracking unit. In one aspect, the diesel boiling range distillate is introduced to the liquid-phase continuous reaction zone over-saturated with hydrogen in an amount effective so that the liquid phase remains substantially saturated with hydrogen throughout the reaction zone as the reactions proceed.

Abstract: A catalytic hydrocracking process wherein a liquid phase stream comprising a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock, a liquid phase effluent from a hydrocracking zone, and a sufficiently low hydrogen concentration to maintain a liquid phase continuous system is fed into a hydrotreating zone to produce a first hydrocarbonaceous stream comprising hydrocarbons having a reduced level of sulfur and nitrogen. The resulting hydrocarbons having a reduced level of sulfur and nitrogen are introduced into a hydrocracking zone with a sufficiently low hydrogen concentration to maintain a liquid phase continuous system to produce a hydrocracking zone effluent which provides lower boiling range hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A method of removing an organic acid from Light Fischer-Tropsch Liquid (LFTL) comprising treating the LFTL with about 30 to 75% ammonium hydroxide, whereupon the organic acid is converted to an ammonium salt; and a method of converting an olefin in LFTL to a paraffin comprising contacting LFTL, which has been treated with about 30 to 75% ammonium hydroxide so as to convert organic acid in the LFTL to ammonium salt, with a cobalt/molybdenum catalyst in the presence of hydrogen in a fixed-bed reactor.

Abstract: A process and catalyst for the selective hydrodesulfurization of a naphtha containing olefins. The process produces a naphtha stream having a reduced concentration of sulfur while maintaining the maximum concentration of olefins.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for completely destroying oxygenates in a feed stream. The feed stream of oxygenates typically includes olefins and it is reacted with hydrogen over a catalyst comprising a top row of Group VIII metal and a Group VI-B metal. Olefins are essentially completely saturated and any sulfur compounds present in the feed are completely converted to hydrogen sulfide. A preferred catalyst includes 2 to 5 wt-% nickel, 5 to 15 wt-% molybdenum, at least 5.5 wt-% sulfur, less than 0.05 wt-% phosphorus and no more than 0.3 wt-% silicon. The catalyst has low acidity and therefore does not promote the cracking of desired oligomeric products. The deoxygenation process is preferably a saturation process that follows an oligomerization process in which light olefins are oligomerized to heavy olefins. The saturation catalyst preferably has lower acidity which causes minimal cracking of desired oligomeric products.

Abstract: Diesel fuels are decolorized by hydrotreatment under mild conditions. The feedstock is normally severely hydrotreated to convert organosulfur or organonitrogen and the effluent passed to a smaller downstream hydrotreating zone at a lower temperature but sufficient to lighten the color of a finished product hydrocarbon.

Abstract: A catalytic hydrotreating process wherein silicon-containing contaminants contained in a hydrocarbon feedstream are deposited onto a hydrotreating catalyst bed during hydrotreating in a manner providing improved catalyst stability. Hydrotreating catalysts having relatively high activities and low surface areas are located downstream of upstream hydrotreating catalysts having relatively low activities and high surface areas.

Abstract: A dual-function catalyst containing both Group VIII and Group IB metals which is effective for simultaneously absorbing sulfur and isomerizing a hydrocarbon feedstock.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon-containing feedstock is desulfurized so as to contain less than 5, and preferably less than 2 ppmw of sulfur, in the first stage of a two-stage process. In the second stage, the feedstock is contacted with an isomerization catalyst useful for promoting n-paraffin isomerization reactions. A dual-function catalyst containing both Group VIII and Group IB metals and effective for simultaneously absorbing sulfur and isomerizing a hydrocarbon feedstock may be employed in the first stage. Alternatively, the dual-function catalyst may be employed in both the first and second stages. Alternatively still, the dual-function catalyst may be used to treat a feedstock containing n-paraffins in a single stage isomerization process.