Process for Preparation of Hydrocracking Catalyst for Use in Hydrocracking of Hydrocarbon Streams

Abstract

A process for activating and maintaining a catalyst for use in hydrocracking a hydrocarbon stream includes continuously contacting a hydrocarbon stream with a hydroprocessing catalyst in the presence of hydrogen. Sulphides and chloride compounds in the hydrocarbon stream are used such that the hydroprocessing catalyst has the ability to hydrogenate, dechlorinate, and hydrocrack components of the hydrocarbon stream.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for activating and maintaining a catalyst for use in hydrotreating a hydrocarbon stream to simultaneously reduce heavier boiling components, chlorides, and olefins, comprising:
 continuously contacting the hydrocarbon stream with a hydroprocessing catalyst in the presence of hydrogen, wherein the hydrocarbon stream comprises one or more chloride compounds and one or more sulphides.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sulphides comprise dimethyl disulphide, mercaptans, carbon disulphide, hydrogen sulphide, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sulfides of the hydrocarbon stream are present in an amount such that a sulphur content of the hydrocarbon stream is about 0.5 wt % to about 5 wt % based on a total weight of the hydrocarbon stream. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 before the step of continuously contacting the hydrocarbon stream with the hydroprocessing catalyst in the presence of hydrogen, contacting a catalyst activating stream with the hydroprocessing catalyst, wherein the catalyst activating stream comprises one or more sulphides.   
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more sulfides of the catalyst activating stream are present in an amount such that a sulphur content of the catalyst activating stream is about 0.5 wt % to about 5 wt % based on a total weight of the catalyst activating stream. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 4 , wherein after the step of contacting and during the step of continuously contacting, the hydroprocessing catalyst has hydrogenation sites and hydrocracking sites. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 4 , wherein the step of contacting a catalyst activating stream with the hydroprocessing catalyst is performed for a period of 30 hours or less, wherein the step of continuously contacting a hydrocarbon stream with a hydroprocessing catalyst initiates after the period elapses. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 4 , wherein the step of contacting a catalyst activating stream with the hydroprocessing catalyst is performed ex-situ of a hydroprocessing reactor. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the step of continuously contacting a hydrocarbon stream with a hydroprocessing catalyst is performed ex-situ of the hydroprocessing reactor. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 4 , wherein the step of contacting a catalyst activating stream with the hydroprocessing catalyst is performed in-situ of a hydroprocessing reactor. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the step of continuously contacting a hydrocarbon stream with a hydroprocessing catalyst is performed in-situ of the hydroprocessing reactor. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the step of continuously contacting the hydrocarbon stream with the hydroprocessing catalyst is performed at a temperature of 100° C. to 450° C. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the step of continuously contacting the hydrocarbon stream with the hydroprocessing catalyst is performed at a weight hourly space velocity of 0.1 to 10 hr −1 , at a hydrogen to hydrocarbon ratio of 10 to 3,000 NL/L, and at a pressure of 1 to 200 barg. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon stream comprises the one or more chloride compounds in a concentration of greater than 200 ppmw based on a total weight of the hydrocarbon stream. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon stream further comprises one or more olefins, and wherein the one or more olefins are present in the hydrocarbon stream in a concentration of 20 wt % or more based on the total weight of the hydrocarbon stream. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein the hydrocarbon stream further comprises heavy hydrocarbon molecules, wherein the at least a portion of the one or more olefins comprises at least a portion of the heavy hydrocarbon molecules. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon stream further comprises paraffins. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon stream further comprises heavy hydrocarbon molecules, and wherein a concentration of the heavy hydrocarbon molecules in the hydrocarbon stream is 10 wt % to 90 wt % based on the total weight of the hydrocarbon stream. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the hydroprocessing catalyst comprises cobalt and molybdenum on an alumina support, nickel and molybdenum on an alumina support, tungsten and molybdenum on an alumina support, or nickel and molybdenum sulphides. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the hydroprocessing catalyst comprises platinum and palladium on an alumina support.