New Catalytic Options for Hydrotreating

To help refiners satisfy today's fuel quality specifications while hydroprocessing cracked-rich heavy distillates, development of step-out next generation hydroprocessing catalysts is needed. The application of such catalysts to the hydroprocessing of cracked-rich, heavy distillate blends should help to achieve the desired product qualities, such as diesel cetane, specific gravity, and/or product yields. Additionally, placement of the catalyst bed containing the new catalyst relative to conventional, supported hydrotreating catalysts should likewise be applicable to identify more advantageous options for the relief of processing constraints. This presentation will include reviews of these examples from pilot plant studies, highlighting the apparent advantages of at least one step-out, next generation hydroprocessing catalyst. This presentation will also cover at least some of the limitations of such a catalyst.