Biodiesel Production by Hydrotreating & Hydroisomerization

GREEN INNOVATIONS
Rizki E.1,2, Evita Emaniatin P. R.1, Zarrah Duniani1 & R. Sutontro1

CO2
CO

1PT

Pertamina (Persero), Research & Development - Refining Directorate

Jl. Raya Bekasi KM20, Pulogadung, East Jakarta
13920 - Indonesia

H2

decarboxyla8on
decarbonyla8on

2rizki.ekananda@pertamina.com

light alkane

H2

H2

Introduction

diglyceride
monoa-
cylglycerol
fa3y acid

The use of alternative, sustainable resources of energy for the transportation sector has been
increasing as a consequence of the concern over limited fossil fuel resources and global
warming from CO2 emissions. Nowadays the main biodiesel fuel product are FAME (Fatty Acid
Methyl Ester) derived from palm oil. This type of fuel have some disadvantages which limit its
use in an unmodified diesel engine. Indonesia is one of the biggest palm oil producer and
exporter. Realizing this fact, Pertamina has started to develop a process to convert vegetable
oil into biodiesel. The process function is to remove oxygen to transform renewable organic
material into pure hydrocarbon (n-parafin), which is basically the same component as those
present in fossil derived diesel fuel, eliminating all limitation related to FAME. Isomerization
step is required to further enhance the cold properties of the fuel produced, which is critical in
an engine cold start up in cold climate countries, by transforming some of the n-parafin into
iso-parafin. This process has a promising future to be easily integrated into an existing refinery
infrastructure.

0.247

Miristic acid

%wt

1.316

Palmitic acid

%wt

23.115

Stearic acid

%wt

1.56

Oleic acid

%wt

65.335

Linoleic acid

%wt

4.117

Sulfur content

%wt
301.27*

297.67*

340 (max)

Distillation T95 C

299.64*

295.74*

360 (max)

Final Boiling
Point

324.68*

323.1*

370 (max)

Pour Point

Density

kg/m3

904

18

-9

18 (max)

778

758

820-860

Methods
Using two hydroprocessing pilot plant which incorporate hydroteating and hydroisomerization
catalyst, we were able to produce biodiesel from crude palm oil. Liquid product are checked
with capilary column gas chromatography with FID detector and confirmed that it consist of
parafin molecules. Gas product are checked with packed column GC Refinery Gas Analyzer.
Hydrotreating catalyst are Ni-Mo based with gamma alumina support which composition are
checked using X-Ray Fluorescence. Surface area tested to be 207 m2/g, pore volume 0.38 cc/g,
and Average pore diameter 73 . All testing are done according to ASTM D3663, D4222 and
D4641 respectively. Hydroisomerization catalyst are Pt based catalyst. Hydrotreating is run at
330C, 30 Kg/cm2 pressure, and LHSV of 1 H-1 and H2/HC 1000 nm3/m3, while
hydroisomerization is run at 360C, 5 Kg/cm2, LHSV 2.6 H-1, and H2/HC 11.54 nm3/m3.
Catalyst Characterization

*calculated from simdis D2887

Yield
Hydrotreating

Isomerization

Liquid product
Hydrocarbon

%wt

75.26

Water

%wt

9.47

isomeriza8on

Reactions

0.05 (max)

Distillation T90 C

iso-paran

Wax

Crude Palm Hydrotreating Isomerization Fossil Diesel

Oil
Product
Product
Specification
%wt

n-paran

polymeriza8on

Product & Feed Characterization

Lauric acid

cracking

hydrogena8on
dehydra8on

hydrogenated
triglyceride

triglyceride

H2

H2O
C3H8

85.34

Catalyst
Support

Hydrotreating
Catalyst

Surface Area

mm2/g

260.2

207

Pore Volume

cc/g

0.56

0.38

Avg. Pore Diameter

85.68

73

Crushing Strength

Kg

Conf.

Diameter

mm

2.03 - 2.07

Attrition Loss

%wt

0.0408 - 0.0422

Ni content

%wt

Conf.

Mo content

%wt

Conf.

Si content

%wt

Conf.

P content

%wt

Conf.

2.03 - 2.07

Operating Condition

Gas
C6+

%wt

0.08

Methane

%wt

0.03

Ethane

%wt

0.14

0.07

Propane

%wt

2.52

7.73

n-Butane

%wt

4.05

n-Pentane

%wt

1.15

CO2

%wt

2.27

H2

Hydrotreating

Hydroisomerization

Temperature

330

360

Pressure

kg/cm2

30

LHSV

H-1

2.6

H2/HC

nm3/m3

1000

11.54

Loading Density

g/L

750

680

Booster

Dryer

Feed CPO

Dryer

Scrubber

Comp.

Scrubber

H2

Sulfiding line

WTM
Reactor 2

Reactor 1

Gas Chromatography
WTM

Chiller
N2

HPS

Chiller
Vent

LPS

HPS
LPS

Flow control

N2

Vent

HBD
Flow control
Sulfiding line

Hydroprocessing Pilot Plant

End Product

GREENINNOVATIONS
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT