Catalysis 2025 Issue

Test 1 Test 1: VGO

KF 907-1.5E KF 917-1.3Q

∆=4˚C / 7˚F

PPH in

45-50 / 650-725

(bar / psig) (NI/I / scf/b)

H/oil LHSV

200-300 / 1200-1800

0.6-4.0

(h-1)

Feed properties

VGO 2.26

Sulphur Nitrogen Density

(wt%)

934

(ppmwt) (g/l / ˚API)

∆=2˚C / 4˚F

918 / 22.6 338 / 640 433 / 811 511 / 952

T10% T50% T90%

(˚C / ˚F) (˚C / ˚F) (˚C / ˚F)

Days on stream

Test 2 Test 2: VGO + VGO/HCGO

PPH in

42-51 / 610-740

(bar / psig) (NI/I / scf/b)

H/oil LHSV

285-350 / 1700-2100

∆=3.5˚C / 6˚F

1.9-2.3

(h-1)

∆=4.5˚C / 8˚F

Feed properties

VGO VGO-1 VGO-2

(wt%) VGO HCGO-1 HCGO-2 (ppmwt) (g/l / ˚API)

– – 100 1.76

54 7 39 2.53

77 2 21 2.58

Blending ratio (vol%)

Sulphur

KF 907-1.5E KF 917-1.3Q

Total nitrogen (Basic)

868 (240) 909 / 24.2 328 / 622 431 / 608

1638 (478) 933 / 20.2 310 / 590 418 / 784

1843 (593) 942 / 18.7

T10% Density

1500 / 540 1700 / 1050 1800 / 1200 306 / 583 418 / 784 516 / 961 507 / 945 509 / 948

(˚C / ˚F) (˚C / ˚F) (˚C / ˚F)

T50% T90%

∆=1.5˚C / 3˚F

Product S/ N

(ppmwt)

VGO

VGO-1

VGO-2

Figure 8 Performance advantage of KF 917 in FCC-PT when processing VGO and VGO/HCGO blends. KF 917’s activity advantage increases with both time-on-stream (TOS) and with the higher intake of more challenging feedstock

Going forward Part 2 of the article will appear in PTQ Q3 2025 and discuss Ketjen’s latest catalyst technology developments and their benefits in conventional high-pressure distillate hydrotreating and HC-PT, and in distillate renewables co-processing appli- cations. Key reactions and factors determining performance will be examined, along with solutions to increase operating flexibility, robustness, and maximise profitability. Acknowledgment The author would like to express his gratitude to everyone at Ketjen and Nippon Ketjen who contributed to the development and introduc- tion in the market of the catalysts discussed in this paper. References 1 https://www.iea.org/reports/world-energy-outlook-2024 2 https://www.iea.org/events/world-energy-outlook-2024 3 https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/oil-and-gas/our-insights/ global-energy-perspective-2023-refining-outlook 4 Sustainable aviation fuel production via the HEFA route: Insights and innovations, PTQ’s ERTC 2024 Newspaper . 5 ReNewFine for renewable diesel and SAF: Results of a 20-year part- nership in 100% HVO, PTQ’s ERTC 2023 Newspaper. 6 Hydroprocessing of waste plastic oils as an essential step in the chem- ical recycling of waste plastics, Hydrocarbon Engineering, June 2024. Andrea Battiston is Global Business Advisor for Clean Fuel Technology at Ketjen, responsible for the development and application of Ketjen’s hydrotreating catalyst portfolio for conventional and renewable feed- stocks. He holds a Masters in chemical engineering from Politecnico di Milano, Italy, and a PhD in heterogeneous catalysis and spectroscopy from Utrecht University, the Netherlands.

maintain both catalysts at the same target product sulphur, the WABT of the two reactors was varied independently, while all the other operating parameters were kept the same. The HDS activity advantage of KF 917 increased from 2°C/4°F at SOR to 4°C/7°F after 50 days-on-stream (DOS), demonstrating its higher activity and stability and thus its ability to prolong cycle length. In the second test, the ability of the two catalysts to treat more difficult feedstock was compared. Three feedstocks were screened: VGO and two blends of VGO with increasing amounts of refractory HCGO components, blend VGO1 (61 wt% total HCGO), and blend VGO2 (79 wt% total HCGO). Increased intake of HCGO led to higher sulphur, basic nitrogen, and density of the feed blend. Also in this test, the WABT of the two catalysts was varied independently in the reactors to meet the same target product sulphur, which was 1,500, 1,700 and 1,800 ppmwt for feeds VGO, VGO1, and VGO2, respectively. The results of the second test prove that KF 917 is not only more active when treat- ing VGO (1.5°C/3°F lower WABT) but also that its activ- ity advantage increases with increasingly higher intake of HCGO (3.5°C/6°F lower WABT with blend VGO1, and 4.5°C/8°F lower WABT with blend VGO2). Additionally, its hydrogen consumption for the same product sulphur level was slightly lower (average of 2-3 Nl/l/10-15 scf/b across the three feedstocks) compared to KF 907, as KF 917 was able to meet the product sulphur target at a lower temper- ature thanks to its higher activity and stability.

Catalysis 2025