HDS Processes and Catalysts

In seeking new and improved ways for achieving the ultralow levels of sulfur in the fuels of the future, it is important to understand the nature of the sulfur compounds that are to be converted (especially PASCs), as described in Section III. It is equally important to understand how these transformations occur through interactions with catalytic surface species, the pathways involved during these transformations, and the associated kinetic and thermodynamic limitations. These considerations dictate the process conditions and reactor process configurations that must be used to promote such transformations. In this section, we describe the reactor configurations and process conditions being used today what is known about the catalyst compositions, structure, and chemistry and what is known about the chemistry and reaction pathways for conversion of PASCs in conventional HDS processes. 

Most of today s distillate HDS processes consist of fixed-bed, down-flow reactors configured in a manner similar to that shown in Fig. 8 (7). It should be noted that hydrogen is used in excess and is recirculated after scrubbing out the H2S byproduct. Care must be used in the scrubbing operation as it is necessary to maintain a low but optimum level of H2S in the recycle stream to maintain catalyst stability and activity. The consequence of this H2S requirement when hydrotreating PASCs to extinction is discussed in more detail in later sections, but at this point it should be mentioned that H2S is a strong inhibitor of HDS for PASCs. 

The installed capacities for hydrotreating distillates are predominantly moderate-pressure reactors (up to 3 MPa). Typical conditions used in today s commercial processes are summarized in Table IV (7). In the U.S., the Clean Air Act mandated that low-emission fuels will have to be developed for future use. Industry responded quickly, and by 1994 typical diesel fuels in the U.S. contained 0.05% S, with average cetane numbers of 42 and 31-37% aromatics. California imposed stricter standards, requiring 0.05% S and a minimum of 48 cetane with an emission that did not exceed that of a 10% aromatic fuel. This is the present standard for California Air Resources Board (CARB) certification. Through the development of improved processing and additives that lower emissions, Chevron was the 

Typical Process Conditions for Various Hydrotreating Processes  

Feed Process Temperature rc) H2 pressure (MPa) LHSV H2 consumption (Nm- /m3) 

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This chapter follows the organization used in the past. A summary of the electronic properties leads into reports of electrocyclic chemistry. Recent reports of studies of HDS processes and catalysts are then summarized. Thiophene ring substitution reactions, ring-forming reactions, the formation of ring-annelated derivatives, and the use of thiophene molecules as intermediates are then reported. Applications of thiophene and its derivatives in polymers and in other small molecules of interest are highlighted. Finally, the few examples of selenophenes and tellurophenes reported in the past year are noted. 

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