J. Ancheyta-juarez et al., An exploratory study for obtaining synthetic crudes from heavy crude oils via hydrotreating, ENERG FUEL, 15(1), 2001, pp. 120-127
In this work we present an experimental evaluation about the catalytic hydr
otreating (HDT) of Maya heavy crude oil. The study was carried out in a hig
h-pressure fixed bed pilot plant. The HDT reactions were conducted at 54-10
0 kg/cm(2) pressure, 0.5-1.5 h(-1) LHSV, 380-420 degreesC temperature, and
5000-10 000 ft(3)/bbl H-2/oil ratio using an experimental NiMo/Al2O3-TiO2 c
atalyst. The data showed that API gravity and sulfur, nitrogen, Ramsbottom
carbon, asphaltenes, and metals (Ni, V) contents can be improved by direct
HDT of Maya crude oil. Values very similar to the Isthmus light crude oil p
roperties were obtained at severe operating conditions. Naphtha, middle dis
tillates, and FCC feedstock fractions yield obtained from TBP distillation
of the synthetic crudes increase as the severity of the HDT was increased.
Middle distillates showed the greatest yield increase.