Resid desulfurization units

The role of resid desulfurization units introduced into Japan in the latter half of the 1960s has changed to the feed pretreatment for resid fluid catalytic cracking (RFCC) and the mild resid hydroconversion as well as the desulfurization of heavy oil since the oil crises. 

Resid hydrotreating catalysts, developed in 1987 have been used together with a scale-and iron-removing catalyst for (1) the cracking and desulfurization of atmospheric residue, (2) the pretreatment of RFCC and (3) the cracking of vacuum residue. Approximately 7000 tons of industrial catalysts have been used in commercial units so far. 

In the past few years the residue hydrodesulfiirization process has gone through a number of changes. Deeper desulfurization and more conversion to mid-distillate have become a primary target for several units. At the same time, heavier residues are being processed. To address these and other questions, Nippon Ketjen has developed a new series of resid catalysts, viz. the KFR series. The two most common modes of resid hydroprocessing applied on commercial scale, are illustrated with pilot plant test data and data from commercial units. 

---