Catalytic cracking process for production of diesel from seeds of oleaginous plants

• US 20080313955A1
• Filed: 06/17/2008
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Petrã“Leo Brasileiro SA - Petrobras (Presidãªncia Da Repãºblica)
• Original Assignee: Petrã“Leo Brasileiro SA - Petrobras (Presidãªncia Da Repãºblica)
• Inventors: Pinho, Andrea de Rezende, Huziwara, Wilson Kenzo, Casavechia, Luiz Carlos, Khalil, Carlos Nagib, Da Silva Neto, Amilcar Pereira, Silva, Raul de Carvalho, Ramos Cabral, Julio Amilcar, Ferreira Leite, Lucia Cristina, Silva, Mauro
• Granted Patent: US 8,231,777 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 44/307
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 11/18 according to the "fluidised-bed" technique
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/1014 of vegetal origin
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/1055 Diesel having a boiling range of about 230 - 330 °C
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/1059 Gasoil having a boiling range of about 330 - 427 °C
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/307 Cetane number, cetane index
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2400/04 Diesel oil
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 3/49 containing crystalline aluminosilicates, e.g. molecular sieves
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 3/57 according to the fluidised bed technique
• CPC Class Codes: C11C 3/00 Fats, oils, or fatty acids by chemical modification of fats, oils, or fatty acids obtained therefrom sulfonated fats or oils C07C309/62; factice C08H; drying oils C09F
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 30/20 using bio-feedstock

Abstract

The present invention comprises a thermocatalytic cracking process for the production of diesel oil from a charge of vegetable origin made from seeds of oleaginous plants in refineries possessing at least two FCC reactors. At least -one of such reactors processes heavy gas oil or residue under conventional conditions whilst at least one of such reactors processes the charge of vegetable origin made from seeds of oleaginous plants under conditions suitable, for production of diesel oil. Said process employs the same catalyst utilised in the fluid catalytic cracking process which, simultaneously, processes a conventional charge.

The diesel, or biodiesel, oil produced by means of said process is of superior quality having a cetane number exceeding 40 given that the cracking reactions occur at low temperatures and the products obtained are less oxidised and consequently purer than products obtained by means of existing technology.

Claims

1. CATALYTIC CRACKING PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF DIESEL FROM SEEDS OF OLEAGINOUS PLANTS characterised by being conducted in a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit possessing at least two FCC reactors, of the riser ascending-flow type or of the downflow descending-flow type, wherein at least one of such FCC reactors operates under conventional conditions appropriate for processing a charge of heavy gas oil or residue (A) at temperatures exceeding 490°

C., whilst at least one of the remaining FCC reactors operates in the processing of a charge of vegetable origin (B) made from seeds of oleaginous plants at temperatures below 490°

C.

2. CATALYTIC CRACKING PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF DIESEL FROM SEEDS OF OLEAGINOUS PLANTS according to claim 1 characterised by comprising the stages of:

a) atomising preheated charges (A, B);

b) introducing said charge of gas oil (A) into a first FCC reactor (1) operating under normal reaction conditions and at temperatures exceeding 490°

C.; and

c) introducing said charge of vegetable origin (B) made from seeds of oleaginous plants into at least one of the remaining FCC reactors (2) operating at reaction temperatures in the band from 250°

C. to 490°

C.;

d) obtaining a biodiesel having a high cetane number.

3. CATALYTIC CRACKING PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF DIESEL FROM SEEDS OF OLEAGINOUS PLANTS according to claim 1 characterised by said charge of vegetable origin (B) being constituted by seeds of oleaginous plants selected from the group consisting of castor beans, soya, cotton, peanut, rape, jatropha, sunflower or any other seed of a suitable oleaginous plant.

4. CATALYTIC CRACKING PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF DIESEL FROM SEEDS OF OLEAGINOUS PLANTS according to claim 3 characterised by said charge of vegetable origin (B) being constituted by seeds of oleaginous plants utilised pure or in admixture with different seeds in any proportion thereof.

5. CATALYTIC CRACKING PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF DIESEL FROM SEEDS OF OLEAGINOUS PLANTS according to claim 2 characterised by said charge of vegetable origin (B) being previously crushed with a fluid, preferably water, then being introduced into said FCC reactor (2) operating at reaction temperatures in the band from 250°

C. to 490°

C.

6. CATALYTIC CRACKING PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF DIESEL FROM SEEDS OF OLEAGINOUS PLANTS according to claim 1 characterised by favouring the production of diesel oil having a high cetane number in fluid catalytic cracking units.

7. CATALYTIC CRACKING PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF DIESEL FROM SEEDS OF OLEAGINOUS PLANTS according to claim 6 characterised by the cetane number of said diesel oil exceeding 40.

8. CATALYTIC CRACKING PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF DIESEL FROM SEEDS OF OLEAGINOUS PLANTS according to claim 1 characterised by said catalyst containing 10%-60 weight % of solid acid, 0%-50 weight % of alumina, 0%-40 weight % of silica, the remainder being kaolin.

9. CATALYTIC CRACKING PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF DIESEL FROM SEEDS OF OLEAGINOUS PLANTS according to claim 8 characterised by said solid acid being a zeolite of the ZSM type, a zeolite of the faujasite type, mike silico-aluminium phosphate (SAPO), aluminium phosphate (ALPO), and any such combinations.

10. CATALYTIC CRACKING PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF DIESEL FROM SEEDS OF OLEAGINOUS PLANTS according to claim 1 characterised by said diesel oil produced being biodiesel oil having a cetane number exceeding 40.