Production of diesel fuel from petroleum reformate via the ARODIS process

Abstract EN

A novel process is deseribed for eonverting the light aromaties derived from a petroleum reformate into distillate fuel.

The process, ARODIS, involves two stages, hydroalkylation and hydrogenation.

In the hydroalkylation stage, aromaties, particularly benzene and mono-substituted aromaties sueh as toluene and ethylbenzene, are eonverted with high seleetivities to the eorresponding alkylated aromaties.

A by-product from the first stage is a gasoline fraetion of oetane number around 100 comprising unreaetive aromaties originally in the reformate, and hydrogenated forms of the more reactive aromaties: cyclohexane, methylcyclo-hexane etc.

In the second stage, the hydroalkylation product, nominally boiling above 170°c, is hydrogenated to yield a naphthenic diesel fuel product of cetane number around 40, a cloud point below -50°c, and low aromatic and sulfur contents.

The major constituents of this product are bicyclohexyl and its substituted analogues, with smaller quantities of tricyclohexyls.

A conceptual process flowsheet for the ARODIS process is described together with a view of how it might be incorporated into a refinery.