Process and apparatus for producing hydrocarbons

Abstract

The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for producing hydrocarbon components in the presence of a hydrodesulphurization catalyst. The components obtained by the process are suitable for use as fuel composition as such or as an additive in fuel compositions, and in cosmetics or pharmaceutical products.

1 . A fuel composition, produced by the method comprising:
 providing a terpene feed selected from a group consisting of crude sulphate turpentine derived from kraft pulping process of wood (CST), crude turpentine derived from mechanical pulping of wood, distillation bottoms from turpentine distillation, turpentine evaporated from crude tall oil, sulphur-containing C5 to C10 hydrocarbon streams from wood processing, and mixtures thereof, at a WHSV of about 0.5 to about 10 measured in accordance with the following equation:   
       
         
           
             
               
                 WHSV 
                  
                 
                   [ 
                   
                     h 
                     
                       - 
                       1 
                     
                   
                   ] 
                 
               
               = 
               
                 
                   V 
                   
                     feed 
                      
                     
                         
                     
                     [ 
                     
                       g 
                       / 
                       h 
                     
                     ] 
                   
                 
                 
                   m 
                   
                     catalyst 
                      
                     
                         
                     
                     [ 
                     g 
                     ] 
                   
                 
               
             
           
         
         wherein V feed[g/h]  means a pumping velocity of the terpene feed, and m catalyst[g]  means an amount of the catalyst; 
         subjecting the terpene feed and a hydrogen gas, in a volumetric ratio of hydrogen gas to the terpene feed of from about 100 to about 1500 Nl/l, to a hydrogenation step at a temperature range of from about 275° C. to about 425° C. and at a pressure of 10 to 150 bar, in the presence of a hydrodesulphurization catalyst selected from a group consisting of NiO/MoO 3 , CoO/MoO 3  and a mixture of NiO/MoO 3  and CoO/MoO 3  on a support selected from Al 2 O 3  and Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 , to produce hydrocarbon components comprising C 4 -C 28  hydrocarbons; and 
         recycling at least a portion of the hydrocarbon components back to the terpene feed and/or to the hydrogenation step. 
       
     
     
         2 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel composition is selected from a group consisting of gasoline, diesel, naphtha and jet fuel. 
     
     
         3 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel composition comprises a mixture of 1-isopropyl-4-methylbenzene, 1-isopropyl-4-methylcyclohexane and 2,6-dimethyloctane or isomers thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The fuel composition of  claim 3 , wherein the fuel composition further comprises bicyclic C10 compounds. 
     
     
         5 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel composition comprises polycyclic hydrocarbons, monocyclic hydrocarbons, acyclic hydrocarbons, and aromatic hydro-carbons. 
     
     
         6 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , for use in cosmetics or pharmaceutical products. 
     
     
         7 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , for use as an additive in fuel compositions. 
     
     
         8 . A fuel composition comprising 10-15% polycyclic hydrocarbons, 20-50% monocyclic hydrocarbons, 7-15% acyclic hydrocarbons, and 15-50% aromatic hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         9 . The fuel composition of  claim 9 , comprising a mixture of 1-isopropyl-4-methylbenzene, 1-isopropyl-4-methylcyclohexane and 2,6-dimethyloctane or isomers thereof.