Dearomatization, cetane improvement and deep desulfurization of diesel feedstock in a single-stage reactor

Hydrotreating of light cycle oil over CoMo/Al₂O₃, NiMo/Al₂O₃ and NiW/Al₂O₃ catalysts has shown that the type of catalyst has a critical influence on the composition and properties of the product. Divergent effects of aromatics content and molecular weight on the cetane index by these catalysts occurred. Data show that it was not possible to obtain a diesel product that meets stringent specifications using one type of catalyst in a single-stage reactor even under severe operating conditions.