AM-97-25 SULFUR, NITROGEN, AND AROMATICS REMOVAL FROM FUELS: A COMPARISON OF PROCESSING OPTIONS

Description:

Responding to the challenges of producing a cleaner gasoline to satisfy local and national environmental standards has occupied the attention of refiners through most of the 1990s. As the end of the decade approaches, refiners are facing a similar set of environmental challenges with regard to the production of other transportation fuels. Although the exact specifications have not yet been set, refiners do know that they will have to reduce ‘the sulfur and improve the emissions performance of middle distillates just as they did \;ith reformulated gasoline (RFG). The objectives of this paper are to: l Provide an update on UOP’s latest developments for continuing to meet gasoline specifications l Discuss the breadth of hydroprocessing options available from UOP to help refiners upgrade the quality of their middle distillates in both existing and new units l Describe advances in hydroprocessing catalysts l Provide case studies that show the benefits of using the UOP@ hydroprocessing technologies The ISALSM process offered by UOP can be used in combination with the MeroxSM process to effectively remove sulfur from FCC gasoline with a minimum loss of octane. The result is a product with lower sulfur and SOx emissions and increased yield. Various UOP hydroprocessing technologies-UnionfiningsM, Unisa?‘, Unicracking/DWSM, and UnicrackingSM-can help refiners meet the upcoming regulations on distillate fuels. New hydroprocessing catalysts provide the increased activity required to produce higher-quality products more effectively. All these technologies and improvements help refiners meet the changing needs and environmental demands of their markets.