Hydrotreating

In order for naphtha, kerosene or diesel to meet their final specifications, it may be necessary to remove excess sulphur from the product stream. In most cases, this is effected by the use of a hydrotreater.

The hydrotreater uses hydrogen, in the presence of a catalyst, to react with the sulphur in the feed stream to form Hydrogen Sulphide (H₂S). This process uses a reactor, similar to that used in reforming, which contains a catalyst.

Hydrotreating can also be used to saturate the incoming feed stream. This is where oxygen and nitrogen are removed from their compounds and olefins are converted to paraffins.

Typical operating parameters are temperature 320° - 380° C and pressure 40 - 60 barg.