The hydrocracking of Fischer-Tropsch wax : using n-tetradecane as a model compound

Master Thesis

2005

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http://hdl.handle.net/11427/8662
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thesis_ebe_2005_kotsiopoulos_a.pdf (5.98 MB)
Authors
Kotsiopoulos, Athanasios
Supervisors
Fletcher, Jack
Böhringer, Walter
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University of Cape Town

Department
Centre for Catalysis Research
Faculty
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
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Abstract
Increasingly stringent legislation has been applied to transportation fuels to minimise or eliminate aromatics and sulphur compounds in diesel fuel. This has led to manufacturers determining alternative production methods to comply to legislation. Part of the current diesel fuel is being produced by hydrocracking heavier fractions derived from crude oil. These hydrocracking processes utilise bi-functional catalysts which have a metal (hydrogenating/dehydrogenating) function and an acid (cracking) function. The most common of these hydrocracking catalysts are combinations of either noble metals and acid zeolites, such as Pt/ HY, or combined sulphides of group VIA and VIIIA metals on amorphous acidic supports, such as CoMo/SiO2-Al2O3. For good quality diesel, the fuel should have a high cetane number and the aromatics and sulphur content should also be kept to a. minimum (e.g. EU legislation: sulphur content must be below 10 ppm (wt) by 2008). Fischer-Tropsch wax is made up predominantly of long-chain linear paraffins with exceptionally low aromatics and heteroatom content (sulphur and nitrogen-containing compounds) and therefore a good source for very 'clean', good quality diesel. The objective of this study was therefore to investigate the suitability of a conventional bi-functional hydrocracking catalyst namely, CoMo/SiO2-Al2O3 in unsulphided form for the hydrocracking of Fischer-Tropsch wax using n-tetradecane as a model compound. The purpose of using the catalyst in unsulphided form was not to introduce any sulphur to the already sulphur-free feedstock.
Description

Includes bibliographical references (p. 99-102).

Keywords
Chemical Engineering

Reference:

Kotsiopoulos, A. 2005. The hydrocracking of Fischer-Tropsch wax : using n-tetradecane as a model compound. University of Cape Town.

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