The Effect of the Reaction Conditions on the Properties of Products from Co-Hydrotreating of Rapeseed Oil and Petroleum Middle Distillates

This study compares the hydrotreating of the mixture of petroleum middle distillates and the same mixture containing 20 wt % of rapeseed oil. We also study the effect of the temperature and the weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) on the co-hydrotreating of gas oil and rapeseed oil mixture. The hydrotreating is performed over a commercial hydrotreating Ni-Mo/Al2O3 catalyst at temperatures of ca. 320, 330, 340, and 350 degrees C with a WHSV of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 h(-1) under a pressure of 4 MPa and at a constant hydrogen flow of 28 dm(3)center dot h(-1). The total conversion of the rapeseed oil is achieved under all the tested reaction conditions. The content of the aromatic hydrocarbons in the products reached a minimum at the lowest reaction temperature and WHSV. The content of sulphur in the products did not exceed 10 mg center dot kg(-1) at the reaction temperature of 350 degrees C and a WHSV of 1.0 h(-1) and WHSV of 0.5 h(-1) regardless of the reaction temperature. Our results show that in the hydrotreating of the feedstock containing rapeseed oil, a large amount of hydrogen is consumed for the dearomatisation of the fossil part and the saturation of the double bonds in the rapeseed oil and its hydrodeoxygenation.

Automated summary

This study compares the hydrotreating of petroleum distillates and a mixture containing rapeseed oil. It found that complete conversion of rapeseed oil and minimum aromatic hydrocarbon content in the products can be achieved under different reaction conditions, while sulfur content can be controlled within acceptable levels under appropriate reaction conditions.