The knowledge on how vacuum resids (VR) react under a set of operating conditions could be useful to optimize operational variables and catalyst/oil ratios and to maximize residue conversions and product yields. Using a Ni/Mo-dispersed catalyst, the hydroprocessing reactivity of residues (as measured in terms of the hydrodenitrogenation pseudo-first-order rate constant, HDN rate in h−1) was inversely proportional to the nitrogen content and the asphaltene content of the VR.&lt;span style="font-size:10.8333px"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Thus, the characterization of the nitrogen species present in the asphaltenes is of paramount importance to fully understand the processability of these feedstocks to hydroprocessing. In this work, the asphaltenes were characterized by X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). Two nitrogen signals were observed which were assigned to pyrrolic and pyridinic nitrogen. It was found that the HDN rate is inversely proportional to the percentages of pyrrolic nitrogen in the asphaltenes and whole residue. In this talk, the characterization of asphaltenes by MS of selected VR feeds will be described as well.

Predicting reactivity of feedstocks to vacuum resid hydroprocessing using nitrogen characterization

255th National Meeting (2018)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.