Low-Pressure Hydrocracking of Coal-Derived Fischer−Tropsch Waxes to Diesel

Coal-derived low-temperature Fischer−Tropsch (LTFT) wax was hydrocracked at pressures of 3.5−7.0 MPa using silica−alumina-supported sulfided NiW/NiMo and an unsulfided noble metal catalyst, modified with MoO3. A low-pressure operation at 3.5 MPa produced a highly isomerized diesel, having low cloud points (from −12 to −28 °C) combined with high cetane numbers (69−73). These properties together with the extremely low sulfur (<5 ppm) and aromatic (<0.5%) contents place coal/liquid (CTL) derived distillates as highly valuable blending components to achieve Eurograde diesel specifications. The upgrading of coal-based LTFT waxes through hydrocracking to high-quality diesel fuel blend components in combination with commercial-feasible coal-integrated gasification combined cycle (coal-IGCC) CO2 capture and storage schemes should make CTL technology more attractive.