Upgrading Fischer-Tropsch and petroleum-derived naphthas and distillates

Abstract

A process for upgrading at least one of a Fischer-Tropsch naphtha and a Fischer-Tropsch distillate to produce at least one of a gasoline component, a distillate fuel or a lube base feedstock component. The process includes reforming a Fischer-Tropsch naphtha to produce hydrogen by-product and a gasoline component with a research octane rating of at least about 80. The process further includes upgrading a Fischer-Tropsch distillate using the hydrogen by-product to produce a distillate fuel and/or a lube base feedstock component.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A process for upgrading a Fischer-Tropsch naphtha to produce a gasoline component, the process comprising: 
 a) hydrotreating a Fischer-Tropsch naphtha to remove oxygenates producing hydrotreated Fischer-Tropsch naphtha;    b) reforming said hydrotreated Fischer-Tropsch naphtha producing hydrogen by-product and a gasoline component having a research octane rating of at least about 80; and    c) recirculating said hydrogen by-product to hydrotreat said Fischer-Tropsch naphtha.    
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising hydrotreating said Fischer-Tropsch naphtha using a catalyst comprising at least one of a noble metal and a non-noble metal.  
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein said catalyst comprises a noble metal selected from the group consisting essentially of Pd, Pt, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein said catalyst comprises a non-noble metal that is sulfided in form.  
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein said non-noble metal is sulfided with dimethyldisulfide.  
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein said non-noble metal is selected from the group consisting essentially of Ni, Co, W, Mo and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said gasoline component has a research octane rating of at least about 90.  
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said gasoline component comprises at least about 10% aromatics.  
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein immediately prior to hydrotreatment, said Fischer-Tropsch naphtha comprises at least about 1 ppm sulfur.  
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein said Fischer-Tropsch naphtha comprises at least about 10 ppm sulfur.  
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein prior to hydrotreatment said Fischer-Tropsch naphtha is mixed with a petroleum-derived naphtha to obtain a blended naphtha having a sulfur level of at least about 1 ppm.  
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein said blended naphtha has a sulfur level of at least about 10 ppm.  
     
     
         13 . A gasoline component having a research octane rating of at least about 80 produced by the process of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising providing additional hydrogen to supplement the hydrogen by-product obtained from said naphtha reformation for hydrotreating said Fischer-Tropsch naphtha.  
     
     
         15 . A process for upgrading a Fischer-Tropsch naphtha to produce a gasoline component, the process comprising: 
 a) hydrotreating a Fischer-Tropsch naphtha, using a catalyst comprising at least one of a noble metal and a non-noble metal, producing hydrogen by-product and a gasoline component having a research octane rating of at least about 90 and comprising at least about 10% aromatics; and    b) recirculating said hydrogen by-product to hydrotreat said Fischer-Tropsch naphtha.    
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein immediately prior to hydrotreatment, said Fischer-Tropsch naphtha comprises at least about 1 ppm sulfur.  
     
     
         17 . A gasoline component having a research octane rating of at least about 90 produced by the process of  claim 15 .  
     
     
         18 . A process for upgrading a Fischer-Tropsch naphtha to produce a gasoline component, the process comprising: 
 a) hydrotreating a Fischer-Tropsch naphtha to remove oxygenates producing hydrotreated Fischer-Tropsch naphtha;    b) reforming said hydrotreated Fischer-Tropsch naphtha producing hydrogen by-product and a gasoline component having a research octane rating of at least about 80; and    c) recirculating said hydrogen by-product to hydrotreat said Fischer-Tropsch naphtha;    d) wherein said Fischer-Tropsch naphtha is a blended naphtha, having a sulfur level of at least about 1 ppm, obtained by mixing said Fischer-Tropsch naphtha with a petroleum-derived naphtha.    
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein said blended naphtha has a sulfur level of at least about 10 ppm.  
     
     
         20 . A gasoline component having an octane rating of at least about 80 produced by the process of  claim 18.