Nitrogen compounds removal from oil-derived middle distillates by MIL-101(Cr) and its impact on ULSD production by hydrotreating

Abstract

oil) for ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) production by hydrotreating (HDT) were pretreated by selective nitrogen organic compounds (NOC) adsorption. Highly crystalline metal-organic framework (MOF) MIL-101(Cr) prepared with propylene oxide (proton scavenger) as textural improver was employed to that end. MOF was characterized by N2 physisorption, X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, infrared, Raman and UV-vis spectroscopies, and electron microscopy (SEM and HR-TEM). NOC removal was performed at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, the adsorbent being easily regenerable under mild conditions. Extruded MOF efficiently removed NOC from real feedstocks to concentrations ~ 80 ppm, allowing ULSD production at much milder conditions to those used during pristine feedstocks HDT. Operating temperature could be greatly diminished (from 350°C to 330°C, at 56 kg/sq cm (5.77 MPa), LHSV = 1.5/h, H2/oil = 2500 cy ft/bbl (445 cu m/cu m)) which could notably prolong cycle life of NiMo/Al2O3 formulation used.