Selective adsorption of thiophene using a HIPZD additive in FCC

This study considers the application of a PDVSA Intevep additive (HIPZD) and a FCC Y zeolite commercial catalyst to reduce sulfur species in gasoline range hydrocarbons. The HIPZD additive and the FCC catalyst are blended and contacted with thiophene or benzothiophene and 1,3,5 trimethylbenzene (TMB) in a CREC Fluidized Riser Simulator. Temperatures, partial pressures, reaction times and C/O (catalyst/oil) ratios selected for the experiments, are representative of FCC industrial units. While it is shown that as expected, the proposed additive is not able to selectively remove benzothiophene species, it is proven that HIPZD displays excellent performance for thiophene removal in gasoline aromatic hydrocarbon media. This selective thiophene adsorption can be managed with minimal thiophene alkylation and gasoline catalytic cracking. It is found in this respect, that thiophene selective adsorption on the HIPZD occurs for reaction times smaller than 7 s. It is also observed that a 10 wt% HIPZD and 90 wt% FCC catalyst blend provides both a good and a practical manner to implement the HIPZD additive in FCC. Thus, on the basis of the results reported, it is anticipated that the HIPZD additive can provide valuable in situ'' thiophene selective adsorption for the removal of thiophene under typical FCC riser operation conditions. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.