Kinetic Evaluation for Hydrodesulfurization via Lumped Model in a Trickle-Bed Reactor

• Published in: Industrial & engineering chemistry research 2016-05, Vol.55 (17), p.4878-4886
• Main Authors: Bannatham, Papop, Teeraboonchaikul, Sornsawan, Patirupanon, Tanaree, Arkardvipart, Wannarat, Limtrakul, Sunun, Vatanatham, Terdthai, Ramachandran, Palghat A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0888-5885; 1520-5045
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.6b00382

Deep hydrodesulfurization is an important process because of increasing environmental regulations. Reasonably accurate kinetics and deactivation models are important for predicting the catalyst life and reactor operational adjustments. Gas oil contains various sulfur compounds known by its boiling point, each with different reaction rates. Therefore, single-lumped kinetics is not accurate for all sulfur constituents. Hence, four- to six-lump models, grouping sulfur compounds according to their boiling points, are proposed and coupled with a catalyst deactivation model to predict the time-on-stream reactor performance. The multilump kinetic rate constants were obtained from fitting of operating data. The multilump models show predictions that are more accurate than those of the single-lump model, and the six-lump model gives the most accuracy. The obtained deactivation parameter was applied to present the long-term operational adjustment curve for the operating temperature as a function of time-on-stream to achieve the specified sulfur removal. Such curves are useful in hydrodesulfurization operational planning.