Kinetics of catalytic hydrodesulfurization of a petroleum residue in a batch-recycle trickle bed reactor

Abstract

The kinetics of catalytic hydrodesulfurization of an atmospheric residuum were investigated in a batch-recycle trickle bed reactor with a commercial catalyst. The global rate equation determined was R = ( k υ nε · p H 2 · C 2.5 1 + 0.0028 · p H 2 + 0.181 · p H 2S Catalyst effectiveness factors η, remaining activity ε, effective pore diffusivities D e and activation energies E have been determined quantitatively. The data have also been interpreted in terms of the two parallel, first-order reactions model and the respective parameters have been determined. Solid—liquid chromatography fractions of three hydrocarbon and sulfur compound groups have been determined in addition to the asphaltenes content of the feedstock and the hydrotreated product. These data are discussed and conclusions are drawn with respect to their behaviour during HDS and a reaction network is proposed which explains the complicated interrelations involved.