Co-processing of FCC light cycle oil and waste animal fats with straight run gas oil fraction

The aim of our experiments was the investigation (co-processing) of differently prepared mixtures from straight run gas oil (70-100%), light cycle oil (LCO: 0-10%) and waste animal fat (0-20%). There are no publicly available articles which present the use of these feedstock components. We investigated the effects of the process parameters (temperature: 300-380 °C, pressure: 40-70 bar, liquid hourly space velocity (LHSV): 0.75-2.0 h−1, H2/feedstock ratio: 600 Nm3/m3) on the quality and quantity of products obtained from different composition feedstocks. We found that with the usage of favourable parameter combination the total conversion of triglycerides and free fatty acids (FFA) into n-paraffins as well as the saturation of a significant part of the aromatic compounds and the desulphurisation of the LCO and straight run gas oil can be reached. Notable quality improvement was observed in case of all feedstock components at co-processing. High cetane number of alkanes formed from the conversion of triglycerides and FFAs, compensating the low cetane number of products (e.g. monoaromatics and diaromatics) from the saturation of polyaromatic components. Products obtained at advantageous process parameters can be excellent diesel fuel blending components, because they have low sulphur and aromatic content as well as adequate cetane number, density and cold flow properties. Besides these, they contain components from renewable sources, too.