UOP-filtered SRC

Table I shows the properties of the SRC used. This material is produced in the SRC pilot plant by filtration of the solvation reactor effluent and vacuum stripping of process solvent. It contained 93% SRC and 0.11% ASTM ash. For comparison, the ash content of the UOP-filtered SRC filter feed was 0.01%, or 0.03% based on SRC.

This comparison is reinforced by a comparison of Synthoil with UOP-filtered SRC filter feed. Figure 4 illustrates the response of the two stocks to hydrotreating as a function of pressure and space velocity. The temperature range of the experiments was 9°C. Conversion of SRC heptane insolubles was first order up to 98%, and the effect of pressure was relatively small. Conversion of Synthoil heptane insolubles never exceeded 80% under comparable conditions, and it was strongly dependent on pressure. 

A recapitulation of the catalyst stability data reported indicates that within the time scale of the hydrotreating runs, the UOP-filtered SRC filter feed gave relatively stable performance. SRC itself caused substantial catalyst deactivation Synthoil gave stable performance after an initial deactivation. Since dissolved metals and particulate matter are known to have an adverse effect on catalysts, a correlation was sought based on an analysis for these components. 

Table I. Inspection of SRC Stocks SRC UOP Filter Feed Filtrate SRC...

The particulates in the SRC filter feed (after UOP filtration) appear to be predominately inorganic. The metals containing the particulates (calculated as oxides) account for almost all. In SRC, metal oxides could account for almost half of the particulates measured, especially if some fine particulates are reporting analytically to the filtrate instead of to the filter cake. 

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