Process Intensification for Hydroprocessing of Vegetable Oils: Experimental Study

Abstract

Process intensification for hydroprocessing of vegetable oils was achieved using microchannel and monolithic reactors with lower diffusion lengths, a thin layer of catalyst coating, high surface-to-volume ratios, and better heat/mass transfer. Use of such reactors results in improved reaction selectivities and throughput, with reliable utilization of catalysts. Laboratory scale microchannel and monolithic reactors were washcoated with sol–gel prepared Ni–Mo/γ-Al2O3 catalyst. The catalyst was thoroughly characterized by various techniques. Activity tests were performed on the sulfided catalyst for the hydroprocessing of vegetable oil, a mass and heat transfer limited reaction. Both reactors gave up to 20 times higher kerosene selectivities, up to 30 times higher isomer selectivities, and at least 20 times higher throughput than the conventional trickle-bed reactor. Undesirable oligomeric product yield was 3 times lower in the case of the monolithic reactor than in the case of the microchannel reactor.