Madhusudan Sau

Hydrotreating of Gas Oil, Jatropha Oil, and Their Blends Using a Carbon Supported Cobalt-Molybdenum Catalyst

Hydrotreating of Jatropha oil and Jatropha oil blended gas oil feeds were studied under diesel hydrotreating conditions using Cobalt-Molybdenum catalyst on activated carbon. The experiments were carried out in pilot plant for more than 90 days first with gas oil, followed by 5%, 10%, and 20% Jatropha oil in gas oil and finally with Jatropha oil alone. Deactivation of the catalyst was not observed up to hydrotreating of 20 wt% Jatropha oil in gas oil, but, the reactor pressure shoots up after seven days of running neat Jatropha oil. The liquid products were characterized by GC-MS analysis, distillation, density, sulfur, nitrogen, and Cetane Index.

Synthesis and characterization of Ni-Mo catalyst using pea pod (Pisum sativum L) as carbon support and its hydrotreating potential for gas oil, Jatropha oil, and their blends

ABSTRACT Ni-Mo catalyst was prepared directly on pea pod using boric acid as a surface modifying agent. The BET surface area of the pea pod derived carbon based catalyst was found to be 380 m2/g. The activity of the inventive catalyst was tested in micro down flow reactor for hydrotreating of gas oil, 20% Jatropha oil in gas oil at the temperature range of 330–370°C, 90 bar H2 pressure and space velocity of 1 h−1 followed by Jatropha oil at 370°C, and keeping the other process parameters constant. The gas oil hydrotreating activity of the catalyst studied at temperatures below 370°C was found to be lower than that of the commercial alumina- and carbon-supported Ni-Mo catalysts; however, the activity was found to be comparable at 370°C.

Synthesis and characterization of Ni-Mo catalyst using Jatropha curcas leaves as carbon support and its catalytic activity for hydrotreating of gas oil, Jatropha oil, and their blends

ABSTRACT A novel carbon-based Ni-Mo catalyst has been synthesized successfully from Jatropha curcas leaves using boric acid as a surface modifying agent. The Ni-Mo catalyst prepared on Jatropha curcas leaves had shown BET surface area of 316 m2/g whereas the Ni-Mo catalyst prepared without boric acid activation had shown BET surface area of only 14 m2/g. XRD and SEM data have shown that the active catalyst particles such as Ni and Mo have been found to be uniformly distributed. The inventive catalyst was studied for hydrotreating of gas oil, Jatropha curcas oil and 20% Jatropha oil in gas oil at 370°C, 90 bar H2 pressure, liquid hour space velocity of 1 h−1, and gas-to-oil ratio of 500 Nm3/m3 and the results obtained were found to be comparable with that of the commercial Ni-Mo catalyst supported on alumina.

Hydrocracker Performance Optimization and Catalyst Remaining Life Assessment: Methodology and Case Studies

Abstract Hydrocracking has assumed immense importance in present day refining due to stringent environmental regulations for improvement in the quality of fuels and lubes. The hydrocracker units need to be operated optimally to sustain refinery profitability. An integrated methodology has been developed through a combination of a pilot plant and process model for better prediction and monitoring of the performance of commercial hydrocracking units. Three case studies on performance monitoring and optimization, catalyst remaining life assessment and its optimum utilization, and selection of a new catalyst system for commercial hydrocracker units are presented in this article to demonstrate the efficacy of the approach. The studies have led to significant benefits to refineries.