Hydroprocessing feedstock containing lipid material to produce transportation fuel

Abstract

This invention provides processes for producing fuel, particularly transportation fuel, from biological material, e.g., lipid material. One aspect of the invention involves hydroprocessing a feedstock in a hydroprocessing zone that is maintained at conditions that promote the efficiency of converting the lipid-containing feedstock into transportation fuel. Such conditions include one or more of maintaining CO content of the hydroprocessing zone at a predetermined amount and recycling or providing a hydrogen-containing gas to the hydroprocessing zone that has been treated to remove CO.

1 . A method for producing transportation fuel, comprising:
 providing a feedstock containing lipid material and mineral oil, wherein the lipid material is selected from the group consisting of triglycerides, fatty acid alkyl esters and combinations thereof; and   hydroprocessing the feedstock in a hydroprocessing zone to produce the transportation fuel, wherein the hydroprocessing zone is maintained at not greater than 1000 vppm CO, based on total vapor content of the hydroprocessing zone.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a hydrogen-containing stream that contains not greater than 200 vppm CO, based on total volume of the hydrogen-containing stream, is added to the hydroprocessing zone during hydroprocessing. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen-containing stream that is added to the hydroprocessing zone during hydroprocessing contains greater than 60 vol % H 2 , based on total volume of the hydrogen-containing stream. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hydroprocessing zone contains a CoMo or a NiMo hydroprocessing catalyst. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hydroprocessing produces a hydroprocessed product comprised of a liquid fraction and a gas fraction, and the gas fraction is separated from the liquid fraction, with at least a portion of the liquid fraction forming the transportation fuel. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the separated gas fraction is treated or contacted with a membrane or an adsorbent to remove at least a majority of the CO from the gas stream to form a treated gas stream, with the treated gas stream containing greater than 60 vol % H 2  and not greater than 200 vppm CO, based on total volume of the treated gas stream. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the separated gas fraction is treated or contacted with an adsorbent that is contained in a pressure swing adsorption system or a rapid cycle pressure swing adsorption system to form the treated gas stream. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of the treated gas stream is added to the hydroprocessing zone during hydroprocessing. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein at least a portion of the separated gas fraction is acid gas treated. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the feedstock includes at least 0.05 wt % lipid material, based on total weight of the feedstock. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lipid material portion of the feedstock is comprised of at least 20 wt % fatty acid alkyl ester, based on total weight of the lipid material in the feedstock. 
     
     
         12 . A process for producing a transportation fuel, comprising:
 providing a feedstock containing lipid material and mineral oil;   hydroprocessing the feedstock in a hydroprocessing zone to produce a hydroprocessed product comprised of a liquid fraction and a gas fraction;   separating at least a portion of the gas fraction from the hydroprocessed product;   removing at least a majority of CO contained in the separated gas fraction to form a treated gas stream;   providing at least a portion of the treated gas stream to the hydroprocessing zone; and   recovering at least a portion of the liquid fraction as the transportation fuel.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the gas fraction separated from the hydroprocessed product is acid gas treated prior to removing the CO. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the hydroprocessing zone is maintained at not greater than 1000 vppm CO, based on total vapor content of the hydroprocessing zone. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the separated gas fraction is treated or contacted with a membrane or an adsorbent to remove the CO and form the treated gas stream, with the treated gas stream containing greater than 60 vol % H 2  and not greater than 200 vppm CO, based on total volume of the treated gas stream. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the separated gas fraction is treated or contacted with an adsorbent that is contained in a pressure swing adsorption system or a rapid cycle pressure swing adsorption system to form the treated gas stream. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the lipid material is selected from the group consisting of triglycerides, fatty acid alkyl esters, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the hydroprocessing zone contains a CoMo or a NiMo hydroprocessing catalyst. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the feedstock includes at least 0.05 wt % lipid material, based on total weight of the feedstock. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the lipid material portion of the feedstock is comprised of at least 20 wt % fatty acid alkyl ester, based on total weight of the lipid material in the feedstock.