Desulfurization of gas oil using a distillation, extraction and hydrotreating-based integrated process

Abstract

In the present study, an integrated process (IP) was conceptualized for carrying out the deep desulfurization of gas oil (GO) in a cost-effective and environment-friendly way. This IP is based on the best salient features of distillation, solvent extraction, and hydrotreating processes. The practical applicability of the IP is illustrated using experimental data and estimated responses. The proposed IP can produce gas oil containing 73 ppmw compared to 328 ppmw sulfur produced using standalone hydrotreating process (SHP) from GO having sulfur 1.36% under same operating conditions of temperature and pressure, catalyst, and catalyst loading in hydrotreating reactor. The chemical hydrogen consumption of IP was found to be 48.1% less compared to SHP for the same concentrations of sulfur and aromatic in treated gas oil. Overall, 95.6% of GO can be converted into low sulfur gas oil using mild operating conditions in hydrotreating zone of IP. Rest 4.4% hydrocarbons of SRGO can be used either as valuable carbon black feedstock or feed to delayed coking unit or as aromatic rich rubber processing solvent.