Patent ID: 6623622
Filing Date: 2003-09-23
Classification: C10G

Abstract:
A process for removing heteroatom compounds and aromatic unsaturates from a hydrocarbon feed boiling in the diesel fuel range comprising:a) passing said feed and hydrogen into a first reaction stage operated in a cocurrent manner, in which they react in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a first catalyst selective for removal of heteroatom compounds under first catalytic conversion conditions, to produce a first stage effluent comprising (i) a liquid boiling in the diesel fuel range reduced in heteroatom compounds and (ii) a vapor containing vaporous heteroatom species produced by the reaction; b) passing said first stage effluent to a stripping stage wherein it is contacted with a stripping gas to form a stripped first stage liquid effluent and a stripping stage vapor effluent comprised of the first reaction stage vapor and said stripping gas; c) removing said stripping stage vapor effluent; d) passing said stripped liquid into a second reaction stage reaction stage operated in a cocurrent manner, where the stripped liquid reacts with hydrogen treat gas under second stage catalytic conversion conditions, in the presence of a second catalyst selective for aromatics removal, to remove aromatic compounds and produce second stage liquid and vapor effluents, wherein said vapor contains unreacted hydrogen and said liquid comprises a diesel boiling-range hydrocarbon having a heteroatom and aromatics content lower than that of said feed; e) separating the second stage liquid and vapor effluents and recovering said second stage liquid effluent; and f) passing said second stage vapor effluent into said first stage, said two reaction stages and said stripping stage being in a common vessel.