Effects of parameters in Ni–Mo catalysed hydrocracking of vacuum residue on composition and quality of obtained products

The laboratory findings were presented for a single-stage hydrocracking process of vacuum residue (VR) of Ural crude. The Ni–Mo/Al2O3 catalyst in suspension was used in tests. The amounts and quality of the obtained products were related to process parameters. Hydrocracking of VR was carried out in a continuous flow reactor, at the temperature of 410–450 °C and pressure of 12–20 MPa, at the liquid space velocity (LHSV) of 0.25–0.75 h− 1, and at the gas space velocity of 2500 h− 1.The studied catalyst Ni–Mo/Al2O3 was found moderately active in the VR cracking process, while it turned out an efficient catalyst for the hydrofining processes. The catalyst concentration and hydrogen pressure had no effect on hydrocracking of VR, and hydrofining of cracking products was affected slightly only over the studied scope of parameters. The reaction temperature and LHSV exerted dramatic effects on hydrocracking of VR and on the asphaltenes and CCR contents, while their effect on hydrofining of cracking products was much lower. The temperature of 430 °C resulted in VR conversion to distillates (b.p. < 538 °C) of 61.6–88.7 wt.% and in sulphur conversion of 70–85 wt.%.