Upgrading of heavy and high-contaminant Hydrofaction™ Oil, to fuels blendstock with the use of Catalytic Steam Cracking

The Project’s objective is to continue the upgrading work executed in the previous MITACS Converge project with a larger focus on more challenging biocrude oils such as heavy fractions, high viscosity, high nitrogen, high ash oils that are produced from feedstocks such as “feed gate residues” in the form of manures, biosludges and organics from municipal waste. The performance objective remains to optimize and scale up the upgrading of Hydrofaction™ Oil to blendstocks for transport fuels. The main challenge in upgrading Hydrofaction™ renewable crude Oil from such sources is not only the oxygen content of the oil but also the high viscosity, sulfur, and inorganic contaminants. Catalytic Steam Cracking is the pathway of choice in this Project for removing this oxygen and contaminants. The upgraded oil should achieve low Total Acid Number (TAN), low oxygen, low nitrogen, low minerals content and an improved distillation profile. Ultimately, upgraded oil fractions should be as close as possible to diesel and other transportation fuel standards.

Faculty Supervisor:

Pedro Pereira

Student:

Monica Bertolini

Partner:

Steeper Energy Canada

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Alternative energy

University:

University of Calgary