Hydrocracking development

Akzo-Fina CFI A process for improving the quality of diesel fuel by dewaxing, hydrotreating, and hydrocracking. Developed by Akzo Nobel and Fina from 1988. 

Pyrotol A process for making benzene from pyrolysis gasoline by hydrocracking. Developed by Houdry Process and Chemical Company. In 1987, 13 units were operating worldwide. 

British Coal Corp. is developing a gasoline-from-coal process at a faciUty at Point of Ayr (Scotiand). This process involves treatment with Hquid recycle solvents, digestion at 450—500°C, filtration to separate unconverted residues, and separation into two fractions. The lighter fraction is mildly hydrotreated, and the heavier one is hydrocracked (56). 

During World War II German scientists developed a method of hydrogenating soHd fuels to remove the sulfur by using a cobalt catalyst (see Coal CONVERSION processes). Subsequently, various American oil refining companies used the process in the hydrocracking of cmde fuels (see CATALYSIS SuLFUR REMOVAL AND RECOVERY). Cobalt catalysts are also used in the Fisher-Tropsch method of synthesizing Hquid fuels (21—23) (see Fuels, synthetic). 

MITI is currently undergoing research to develop technology for the recycling of non-flammable plastics such as those used in business machines and computers. Their National Institute for Resources and Environment plans to decompose, without the production of harmful substances, non-flammable polymers by means of liquid phase hydrocracking, and to recover from them light oils such as benzene, toluene and xylene. The key to the technology, it is claimed, lies in the development of a catalyst which will be able to combine hazardous substances such as bromine and chlorine contained in the waste plastics. 

Major work on zinc chloride catalysts for hydrogenation and hydrocracking of coal has been carried out by Zielke, Gorin, Struck and coworers at Consolidation Coal (now Conoco Coal Development Co.) (1). The emphasis there has been on a full boiling-point range of liquid product, from treatment at temperatures between 385 and 425°C and hydrogen pressures of 140 to 200 bars. 

Fukuyama, H., Development of Carbon Catalyst for Heavy Oil Hydrocracking in NPRA Annual Meeting, 2002. 02-14. San Antonio, TX, Mar. 17-19. AM-, 10pp. 

A-CAT [Activity adjustment by ammonia adsorption] A method for pre-sulfiding and passivating hydrocracking catalysts. Developed by EUROCAT in 1989. 

Dieselmax A petroleum cracking process which combines mild hydrocracking with thermal cracking to maximize the production of middle distillate without using more hydrogen than hydrocraking alone. Developed by UOP. 

Gulf HDS A process for hydrorefining and hydrocracking petroleum residues in order to make fuels and feeds for catalytic cracking. Developed by the Gulf Research Development Company. See also hydrodesulfurization. 

HC Unibon [Hydrocracking] A version of the hydrocracking process for simultaneously hydrogenating and cracking various liquid petroleum fractions to form branched-chain hydrocarbon mixtures of lower molecular weight. The catalyst is dual-functional, typically silica and alumina with a base metal, in a fixed bed. Developed by UOP. By 1988,46 licenses had been granted. Currently offered under the name Unicracking. 

Hy-C Cracking A hydrocracking process. The catalyst is nickel/tungsten on alumina. Developed by Cities Service Research and Development Company and Hydrocarbon Research. 

Isocracking A hydrocracking process developed and licensed by Chevron Research Company. The catalyst is nickel or cobalt sulfide on an aluminosilicate. First commercialized in 1962 more than 45 units had been built by 1994. See also Isomax. 

LC-Fining [Lummus Cities refining] A hydrocracking process using an ebullated catalyst bed. Developed by Lummus Crest and Cities Service Research and Development Company since the 1960s, initially for upgrading bitumen from tar sands. Three units were operating in 1996. 

LSE [Liquid solvent extraction] A coal liquifaction process, under development in 1990 by British Coal, at Point of Ayr, North Wales. The coal is dissolved in a coal-derived hydrocarbon solvent and then catalytically hydrocracked. 

MAK fining A petroleum refining process which combines MAK hydrocracking with a cold-flow improvement process. Developed by Nippon Ketjen and first licensed in 1998. 

MAK hydrocracking [Mobil Akzo Kellogg] A process for making high-quality, low-sulfur fuels from a variety of petroleum intermediates. Developed jointly by the three companies named. Two units were operating in 1996. 

MHC Unibon [Mild hydrocracking] A mild hydrocracking process for desulfurizing gas oil and converting it to lower molecular weight hydrocarbons, suitable for further processing by catalytic cracking. Developed by UOP. 

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