Effects of Coprocessing Vacuum Gas Oil with Wood-Based Biocrude

In this study, coprocessing 90 vol % vacuum gas oil (VGO) from fossil-based crude and 10 vol % of a mildly hydrotreated wood-based biocrude originating from a hydrothermal liquefaction process was studied in a conventional once-through hydrocracking test. The result of the testing was compared with the processing of 100 vol % VGO. The wood-based biocrude was hydrotreated prior to coprocessing with VGO in a separate test for the production of a mildly hydrotreated product miscible with VGO. Some of the metals present in the wood-based biocrude was deposited on the catalyst, but some of them were found to be present in the hydrotreated product. The coprocessing experiments showed that for the same gross conversion, more severe reactor conditions were needed as compared to the processing of 100 vol % VGO. Coprocessing resulted in a higher naphtha yield and a lower middle distillate yield as compared to processing 100 vol % VGO. The products from coprocessing had a higher specific gravity, a higher concentration of aromatics, and lower hydrogen content than those found in processing 100 vol % VGO. The smoke point of the jet cut was found to be significantly lower when coprocessing but still acceptable.