HYDROFINISHING/

HYDROTREATING

MUHAMMAD SHERAZ
EP#1642041

PETROLEUM
TEACHER: SIR RAFAY EBAD

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HYDROFINSHING:
• Hydrofinishing is the final step in the production of lubricating oil base stocks.
• The main aim: –
 To improve the physical & chemical properties of the product –
 To produce a higher quality premium product compared to the low quality
dewaxed oil (DWO)
 Product becomes more stable and has better colour suitable to be used as
motor-based oils.

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INTRODUCTION:
Hydrogenation processes for the conversion of petroleum and petroleum
products are generally designated as:
1. Nondestructive hydrogenation—hydrotreating
2. Destructive hydrogenation—hydrocracking

1. NON-DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION HYDROTREATING:

Nondestructive hydrogenation (hydrogenation & hydrotreating)
is generally used for the purpose of improving product quality without appreciable
alteration of the boiling range. Mild-processing conditions are employed so that only
the more unstable contaminants such as constituents containing nitrogen, sulfur, and
oxygen are removed as ammonia (NH3), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and water,
respectively. Unstable compounds (such as olefin constituents) which often
contribute to product fouling by the formation of gum or insoluble material (sediment,
sludge) are converted to more stable compounds.

2. DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION HYDROTREATING:

Destructive hydrogenation hydrotreating (hydrogenolysis
& hydrocracking) is characterized by the conversion of the higher molecular weight
constituents in a feedstock to lower boiling products. Such treatment requires severe
processing conditions and the use of high-hydrogen pressures to minimize
polymerization and condensation reactions that lead to coke formation. As part of the
process, contaminants such as constituents containing nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygen are
also removed as NH3, H2S, and water respectively. In addition, thermally
produced olefins, which often contribute to product fouling by the formation of gum
or insoluble material (sediment, sludge) are not produced to the same extent as they
are in nonhydrogen thermal process.

HYDROTREATING:
Hydrotreating (often called hydrofinishing) is used to upgrade the quality of
fractions by converting olefins and diolefins to paraffins for the purpose of reducing
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gum formation in fuels and such units are usually placed upstream of those processes
in which sulfur and nitrogen could have adverse effects on the catalyst, such
as catalytic reforming and hydrocracking units.
Hydrotreating processes utilize catalysts in the presence of substantial amounts
of hydrogen under high pressure and moderate-to-high temperature to react the
feedstock with hydrogen. Typically, the reactor is a fixed-bed unit (although other bed-
type reactors are also used) with catalyst replacement or regeneration after months
or years of operation. In addition to the treated products, the process produces a
stream of light fuel gases, H2S, and NH3. The treated product and hydrogen-rich gas are
cooled after they leave the reactor before being separated. The hydrogen is recycled
to the reactor.

HYDROTREATING PROCESS:
In the process, the feedstock is heated and passed with hydrogen gas through a
reactor (usually a tower-shape) filled with catalyst pellets and the temperature is on
the order of 260-345°C (500-655°F), while the hydrogen pressures are about 500 to
1500 psi. The precise parameters depend on the nature of the feedstock, the particular
process, and the degree of hydrogenation required. After leaving the reactor, excess
hydrogen is separated from the product gas stream, treated for removal of any H2S,
and recycled through into reactor. The liquid product is passed into a tower where
steam removes dissolved hydrogen and H2S and after cooling the product is taken to
product storage or in the case of feedstock preparation sent to the next processing
unit.

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 o The reaction generally takes place in the vapor phase. Depending on the
application, it may be a mixed-phase reaction.
o Generally it is more economical to hydrotreat high-sulfur feedstocks prior
to catalytic cracking rather than afterwards. In this option, several benefits
accrue:
1. Sulfur is removed from the catalytic cracking feedstock, and corrosion is
reduced in the cracking unit.
2. Carbon formation during cracking is reduced so that higher conversions
result.
3. The cracking quality of the gas oil fraction is improved.

HYDROTREATING REACTIONS:
1. Aromatics are converted to cycloalkanes and alkanes.
−𝐶𝐻 = 𝐶𝐻 − +𝐻2 → −𝐶𝐻2 𝐶𝐻2 −
Benzene cyclohexane

2. Sulfur is removed.
−CH2SH + H2 → −CH3 + H2S
3. Olefins are converted to alkanes.
−CH2SCH2 + H2 → −CH3 + H2S + −CH3
HYDROCRACKER:
A hydrocracking unit, or hydrocracker, takes gas oil, which is heavier and has a
higher boiling range than distillate fuel oil, and cracks the heavy molecules into
distillate and gasoline in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst. The hydrocracker
upgrades low-quality heavy gas oils from the atmospheric or vacuum distillation
tower, the fluid catalytic cracker, and the coking units into high-quality, clean-burning
jet fuel, diesel, and gasoline.

HYDROCRACKING PROCESS:
There are two main chemical reactions occurring in the hydrocracker: catalytic
cracking of heavy hydrocarbons into lighter unsaturated hydrocarbons and the
saturation of these newly formed hydrocarbons with hydrogen. The catalytic cracking
of the heavier hydrocarbons uses heat and causes the feed to be cooled as it progresses
through the reactor. The saturation of the lighter hydrocarbons releases heat and
causes the feed and products to heat up as they proceed through the reactor. Hydrogen
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is also used to control the temperature of the reactor—it is fed into the reactor at
different points. This keeps the reactor temperature from cooling to the point that
cracking will not occur and from rising too high as to jeopardize the safety of the
operation.