Axens’ Portfolio of
Selective Hydrogenation
Catalysts
Axens
89, bd Franklin Roosevelt - BP 50802
92508 Rueil Malmaison Cedex - France
Tel.: + 33 1 47 14 21 00
Fax: + 33 1 47 14 25 00
www.axens.net
Axens North America, Inc
Houston Office
1800 St. James Place, Suite 500
Houston, TX 77056 - USA
Tel.: + 1 713 840 1133
Fax: + 1 713 840 8375
Axens’ Portfolio of
Selective Hydrogenation
Catalysts
Introduction
Selective hydrogenation catalysts are used
mainly for the purification of steam-cracker
streams although they are also employed to
treat FCC effluents. The main objective of a
steam-cracker is to produce ethylene, which is
accompanied by important co-products such as
propylene, butenes, butadiene, and aromatics.
Steam cracker feedstocks originate from a wide
variety of sources that include ethane, propane,
naphtha and gas oils.
Figure 1 - Axens’ Portfolio of Selective Hydrogenation Catalysts for Steamcrackers Effluents
2
The cracked hydrocarbons are recovered in the
ethylene plant separation train as different
streams that include ethylene, propylene, C4
cuts and pyrolysis gasoline (C5+). These differ-
ent cuts are usually purified by selective
hydrogenation to eliminate undesirable by-
products or impurities.
Selective hydrogenation of FCC C4, C5 and
naphtha cuts allows improved downstream
plant operations, productivity and product qual-
ity.
Axens offers a large portfolio (figure 1) of
industrially proven, efficient and cost-effective
selective hydrogenation catalysts that allow the
customers to stay competitive in a rapidly
evolving market. These catalysts are perfectly
suitable for all types of selective hydrogenation
units.
Selective Hydrogenation of C2 Cuts
Raw C2 cuts contain between 0.5 and 2%
acetylene, which inhibits ethylene polymeriza-
tion catalysts. The aim of C2 cut selective hy-
drogenation is to reduce acetylene content as
low as possible while maximizing ethylene
yield and minimizing oligomer (green oil) for-
mation.
Axens’ catalyst for selective hydrogenation of
C2 cuts, LT 279, is a promoted, low palladium
catalyst, supported on a special high purity
alumina. The highly efficient LT 279 reduces
acetylene concentrations to less than 1 ppm at
low operating temperatures, providing out-
standing ethylene yields, typically superior to
100%. Moreover, it drastically reduces green
oil production which results in very long cy-
cles. In front-end operations (treatment of C2-
cuts), its low tendency towards runaway reac-
tions is a further advantage.
Table 1 shows the performance of LT 279 in a
typical commercial unit. Ethylene yield is in-
creased while acetylene is virtually eliminated.
Low High
acetylene acetylene
content content
Acetylene in feed, wt% 0.95 1.28
Acetylene in outlet, <1 <1
ppm
Ethylene in feed, wt% 81.4 83.2
Ethylene in outlet, wt% 81.9 83.9
Ethylene yield,% 100.6 100.8
Table 1 - Commercial performance of LT 279
Selective Hydrogenation of C3 Cuts
Typical steam cracker C3 cuts contain 90%
propylene and 2 to 6% methyl acetylene and
propadiene (MAPD) which must be completely
removed to meet propylene product specifica-
tions. To eliminate MAPD, maximize
propylene yield and suppress oligomer (green
oil) formation, a selective hydrogenation proc-
ess is applied to the C3 cut.
From a process point of view, selective hydro-
genation can be carried out in either liquid or
vapor phase. Axens has developed a specific
catalyst for each option.
3
Liquid phase hydrogenation
LD 273 catalyst has been developed specifi-
cally to obtain high propylene yields. Through
optimized chemical and structural characteris-
tics, LD 273 achieves efficient MAPD
conversion, typically to less than 1 ppm, and
propylene yields surpassing 100%, green oil
formation is suppressed and over-
hydrogenation to propane is minimized.
LD 273’s commercial performance compares
well with that of its successful predecessor,
LD 265. Both catalysts demonstrate very effi-
cient MAPD removal, with effluent
concentrations around 1 ppm, with typical
MAPD conversions exceeding 99.99%. The
catalysts, however, have different palladium
(Pd) contents; LD 273 contains less Pd than
LD 265 and yet its selectivity is remarkably
better as Figure 2 illustrates.
Propylene Concentration, %
96 ∆ = 1.0%
94
95.5
94.5
94.0
92
Feed LD 265 LD 273
Reactor Effluent
Figure 2 - Increased propylene concentrations
after 99.996% MAPD conversion
The higher propylene concentration in the pro-
pylene/propane splitter feed makes the
splitter’s task easier. In fact, some customers
were even able to shut down their splitter be-
cause simple replacement of the existing
catalyst by LD 273 was enough to meet the
required propylene purity.
The comparison given in Figure 3 shows that
the propylene yield increases by 1.1% after
replacement of LD 265 by LD 273.
 Propylene Yield, % In refineries, selective hydrogenation of a FCC
102.0 C4 cut results in reduced acid consumption in
downstream alkylation plants and increased
MON of HF alkylate. TAME unit feedstocks,
containing essentially C5 compounds, can be
upgraded by means of selective hydrogenation,
101.0 ∆ = 1.1%
in order to limit gum formation in the down-
101.6 stream TAME unit and to increase TAME
production. Axens has developed optimized
100.5 catalysts for each processing option.
100.0
LD 265 LD 273 Selective hydrogenation of acetylene com-
Figure 3 - Increased propylene yield with pounds in raw C4 cuts for butadiene
LD 273 recovery
LD 273 obtains better performance, reducing The selective hydrogenation process to convert
oligomer and polymer formation by 40%. vinyl acetylene (VAC) and 1-butyne or ethyl
These materials hinder a reactant’s access to acetylene (ETAC) improves the efficiency and
the catalyst’s active sites and stifle the hydro- economics of downstream butadiene extraction
genation reactions. Also, LD 273 maintains its processes.
high performance longer, extending the cycle LD 277 is the ideal catalyst for this application,
length. achieving high acetylenes’ hydrogenation ac-
Vapor phase hydrogenation tivities and high butadiene yields as illustrated
in Figures 4 and 5. In addition, long catalyst
Axens catalyst for vapor phase processes, lifetimes are typical. LD 277 is applied in two
LT-279, makes use of promoted Pd on a high process configurations, with or without an
purity alumina carrier. LT 279 features highly acetylene removal column in the downstream
efficient MA and PD conversion even at low extraction unit. Figure 4 shows feed and prod-
operating temperatures, outstanding propylene uct butadiene concentrations in a commercial
selectivity and a drastically reduced green oil unit having acetylene removal columns.
formation, which results in very long cycles Butadiene content, %
The following table shows the typical perform- 47
ance of a commercial LT 279 unit for vapor
phase hydrogenation of C3 cut.
Feed Product
46
Propylene,% wt 91.2 93.4
Propane,% wt 5.3 6.6
MA, ppm wt 23 000 <1
45
PD, ppm wt 12 000 < 10
Feed Effluent
Propylene yield,% 102.4
Figure 4 - Selective hydrogenation with
MAPD conversion,% 99.97 acetylene removal columns (LD 277)
Table 2 - Commercial performance of LT 279 If acetylene removal columns are available
downstream from the hydrogenation unit, VAC
and ETAC conversions can be limited to 50%
Selective Hydrogenation of C4 and as shown in Figure 5.
C5 Cuts
There are several processing options for the
upgrading of a typical steam-cracker C4 cut
containing around 50% butadiene, 25% isobu-
tene, 20% butenes and 2% acetylenes,
depending on the market for the various C4
components.

4
 VAC Content, % losses by a factor of ten. Lifetimes of several
2.5 years can be typically achieved. Moreover,
2.0
LD 277 tolerates the sulfur compounds that can
appear during plant upsets and which act as
1.5
inhibitors. The initial activity can be recovered
1.0 simply by restoring the feedstock quality to its
original specifications.
0.5

0
Feed Effluent
Selective catalysts for production of
Figure 5 - VAC conversion for unit configured butenes and iso-amylenes
with acetylene removal columns (LD 277)
Butadiene Content, %
Selective catalyst for 1-butene production
100
Conventional Pd-only catalysts have poor bu-
80 tene-1 selectivity because they significantly
promote 1-butene isomerization to 2-butene.
60
Axens therefore developed LD 271, a special
40
catalyst based on Pd and a promoter on an
alumina carrier, endowing the catalyst with
20
very high intrinsic selectivity. Axens’ LD 271
0
is suitable for the two major processing options
Feed Product concerning 1-butene recovery:
Figure 6 - Butadiene content still remains high - hydrogenation of raw C4 cuts containing
without acetylene removal columns (LD 277) around 50% butadiene,
With no acetylene removal columns available, - processing of C4 cuts after butadiene ex-
the acetylenes have to be converted more thor- traction, containing around 1% butadiene.
oughly to 100 ppm as seen in Figure 7. In both cases the targets are the same: reducing
VAC & ETAC Content, % butadiene content to the ppm range, achieving
1.2 high 1-butene yields, and minimizing 2-butene
1 and butane formation.
0.8
Even for a very severe product specification of
0.6
less than 2 ppm butadiene, about 50% of the
0.4 butadiene is converted to 1-butene, as shown
0.2
100 ppm
by the following industrial results for a butadi-
0 ene-rich unit.
Feed Effluent

Figure 7 - Acetylene conversion in a unit con- Figure 8 shows relatively steady concentrations
figured with no acetylene removal columns of butadiene and 1-butene in the feed over a
(LD 277) four-year period.
Concentration in Feed, wt %
In either case, LD 277 meets the specified con-
60
version of acetylenes while attaining high Butadiene
50
butadiene yields, around 101% and 93% re-
spectively. 40

30
Beyond activity and butadiene yield, catalyst
stability is a key feature for this kind of appli- 20
1-Butene

cation, since VAC reacts with Pd to form a 10

soluble complex. Conventional Pd catalysts 0

thus rapidly lose their Pd through leaching,
resulting in very short lifetimes, typically a few
months, and in high costs.
LD 277 is a bimetallic catalyst, for which the
Pd is stabilized by a dopant that reduces Pd
0 500 1000 1500
Days on stream
Figure 8 - Butadiene and 1-butene concentra-
tions in feed to hydrogenation unit (LD 271)
Figure 9 shows that, for the same period, the
1-butene concentration after the hydrogenation

5
step is generally over 30%, i.e., two or three Feed Product
times the concentration in the feed. The 1- Butadiene, ppm 650 <10
butene increase is around 23% which corre- 1-Butene, wt% 22.2 3.2
sponds to about 50% of the butadiene in the
Trans 2-Butene, wt% 14.1 26.7
feed. Butadiene concentration in the product
cis 2-Butene, wt% 9.3 13.6
has remained consistently less than the 2 ppm
maximum specification. i-Butene, wt% 44.8 44.1

1-Butene Butadiene in Butenes

n-Butane, wt% 7.5 9.8
Concentration, wt % Product, ppm i-Butane, wt% 2.1 2.6
1-Butene
40 4.0
Butadiene conversion, % >98.5
30 3.0 Isomerization rate, % 85.6
Olefin yield, % 96.9
20 2.0 i-butene yield, % 98.4
Butadiene

10 1.0
Table 3 - Commercial performance of
LD 267 R Catalyst
0 0
0 500 1000 1500

Days on stream High sulfur tolerance for butenes and iso-

Figure 9 - 1-Butene and butadiene concentra-
tions in butenes after hydrogenation of 1,3-
butadiene
Hydroisomerization catalyst for production
of 2-butenes
LD 267 R is the catalyst of choice when high
2-butenes yields are essential, for example,
upgrading steam-cracker C4s to 2-butene, pre-
treatment of HF alkylation unit feedstocks from
an FCC unit or pretreatment of feed to an Ax-
ens’ Isopure unit.
LD 267 R achieves efficient residual butadiene
removal with a high isomerization of 1-butene
to 2-butene that approaches the thermo-
dynamic equilibrium. Over-hydrogenation to
butanes is held to a minimum.
The catalyst’s selectivity for isomerization and
olefin recovery is obtained by a specific pre-
treatment step that moderates the catalyst
hydrogenation activity. A further advantage of
this pretreatment is that the catalyst is delivered
in its reduced form. The result is that the acti-
vation step during start-up can be performed
quickly and easily.
Table 3 shows the performance of a typical
commercial unit containing LD 267 R catalyst.
amylenes recovery
FCC C4 cuts often contain sulfur compounds to
such an extent that conventional Pd catalysts
suffer from severe deactivation, resulting in
low butadiene conversion. The consequences
can be high acid consumption and equipment
fouling in downstream alkylation units, causing
operating problems and higher costs.
TAME unit feedstocks, containing essentially
C5 compounds, can be upgraded by means of
selective hydrogenation of C5 diolefins in order
to limit gum formation in the TAME unit.
Gums cause shorter cycles and product discol-
oration. Another benefit of selective
hydrogenation is that TAME production in-
creases through an increased reactive iso-
amylenes yield. In this application too, high
sulfur content feedstocks can deactivate con-
ventional Pd catalysts.
LD 2773 is a promoted Pd catalyst, specially
designed for high sulfur feedstocks. The pro-
moter confers on LD 2773 an exceptional
tolerance towards sulfur compounds contained
in C4 and C5 cuts.

6
Table 4 shows typical performance obtained by
pretreatment with LD 2773 on feed to a com-
mercial TAME unit.
Feed Product
Sulfur content, ppm wt 90 90
Diolefins,% wt 0.9 0.015
3-methyl-1-butene,% wt 1.7 0.6
2-methyl-1-butene,% wt 9.4 7.1
2-methyl-2-butene,% wt 17.2 20.7
Diolefins conversion,% 98
Reactive amylene yield,% 104.5
Table 4 - Performance obtained with LD 2773
on feedstock to a commercial TAME unit
The results show that LD 2773, despite the
high sulfur content, efficiently and selectively
hydrogenates the diolefins and increases the
overall yield of the two amylene isomers used
for TAME production, namely 2-methyl-1-
butene and 2-methyl-2-butene.
Total saturation to butanes
Taking into account the butadiene surpluses
that have arisen in several countries, naphtha
cracker operators have to find ways other than
butadiene extraction to upgrade their C4 cuts.
Total saturation of a C4 olefins cut to a stream
containing mainly butanes is one of the op-
tions. This stream can then be recycled to the
cracking furnaces as its ethylene yield is higher
than that of naphtha. Another option is to sell it
as LPG.
LD 265 is a Pd based catalyst characterized by
an efficient hydrogenation activity and high
long-term stability. Depending on the process
conditions, a wide range of residual olefin con-
tents can be attained, from a few ppm to
several per cent. Typically, cycle lengths of
more than two years are reached.
Selective Hydrogenation of Pygas
cuts
Pyrolysis gasoline (pygas) cuts are character-
ized by high aromatics content and by chemical
instability, due to the presence of highly un-
saturated compounds such as diolefins and
alkenylaromatics.
Options for pygas upgrading include preparing
it for use as a gasoline pool component or re-
covering the aromatics in the pygas for
7
petrochemical end use. Two process schemes
are possible:
1. First stage pygas hydrogenation – This
involves selective hydrogenation of most
of the diolefins and alkenylaromatics in or-
der to meet gasoline pool stability
specifications.
2. Second stage pygas hydrogenation – fol-
lowing the first stage hydrogenation, this
process removes the remaining diolefins,
alkenyl-aromatics and olefins without aro-
matics hydrogenation, followed by
desulfurization to meet high purity aro-
matic product specifications.
The trend toward more stringent environmental
regulations concerning gasoline has led to a
reduction in the amount of pygas in the gaso-
line pool and to an increase in its use as a
petrochemical feedstock.
Axens offers highly active, selective and stable
catalysts for both options.
First stage pygas hydrogenation process
Both Pd and nickel (Ni) catalysts are able to
carry out the required reactions, i.e., the selec-
tive hydrogenation of diolefins and alkenyl-
aromatics such as styrene, while minimizing
olefin hydrogenation and avoiding aromatics
hydrogenation.
Nevertheless, the performance of Pd and Ni
catalysts differs slightly in several respects:
1. Activity:
Pd is intrinsically more active than Ni.
High activity catalysts are therefore based
on Pd. Switching from a conventional to a
highly active catalyst could enable a vari-
ety of objectives to be achieved such as
more stringent specifications, increased
unit throughput, increased catalyst cy-
cle-length and lifetime, reduced catalyst
inventory provided that unit equipment ca-
pacities and reactor hydrodynamics are
sufficient.
2. Start-up behavior
Fresh nickel catalysts containing insuffi-
cient levels of sulfur may be prone
runaway reactions during start-up due to
the presence of active sites for which the
aromatics hydrogenation activity is too
high.
 Therefore, nickel catalysts must be inhib-
ited prior to start-up, by deposition of a
sufficient quantity of sulfur on the most ac-
tive sites. This sulfur pretreatment can be
carried out either ex situ, making the start-
up safe and quick, or in situ.
The reliable and efficient ex situ pretreat-
ment developed by Axens and Eurecat for
nickel catalysts is called ResucatTM.
On the other hand, Pd catalysts are intrinsi-
cally selective and avoid aromatics
hydrogenation.
3. Sensitivity to poisons
Nickel catalysts contain 20 to 50 times
more active metal atoms than Pd catalysts.
For this reason, Ni catalysts are more toler-
ant to poisons than Pd catalysts, and
therefore they are preferred in case of
highly contaminated feedstocks. Arsenic
and mercury can be present in pygas
mainly when natural gas condensate are
used as feeds to steam crackers; such con-
tamination occurs more rarely when
regular naphtha is processed. Silicon con-
tamination is often related to the co-
processing of imported feedstock stem-
ming from coker or visbreaker units.
4. Sensitivity to sulfur compounds
Ni catalysts are more sensitive than Pd
catalysts to mercaptans, disulfides and
thiophenes contained in feedstocks. For
feedstocks with high sulfur content, Pd
catalysts are generally preferred.
5. Cost
Ni is generally less expensive than Pd. Pd
catalysts contain in general between 0.2 -
0.5% wt of the precious metal, whereas Ni
catalysts contain between 10 - 20% wt of
Ni.
In conclusion, the choice between Pd and Ni
catalysts depends on several site-specific con-
straints among which are: feedstock
characteristics, product specifications, unit
characteristics, Pd vs. Ni price differential.
A further option is to load the reactor with
stacked beds: Pd catalyst on top and Ni catalyst
at the bottom of the reactor. The advantage of
this option is that it combines the benefit of the
Pd catalyst’s higher activity with the above-
mentioned advantages of Ni catalysts.
8
Axens has extensive commercial experience
with both Ni and Pd catalysts, including several
commercial references of Pd/Ni stacked beds,
and was the first catalyst manufacturer to bring
both Pd and Ni catalysts to the marketplace for
first stage hydrogenation units.
LD 265 (based on Pd) and LD 241 (based on
Ni) are Axens’ first generation catalysts. They
rapidly became the industry benchmarks owing
to their successful and dependable operation
and their, having achieved consistent customer
satisfaction around the world.
Based on industrial feedback and extensive
research and development efforts, Axens has
more recently developed a new generation of
catalysts, Pd-based LD 365 and Ni-based
LD 341. Through improved physical and
chemical characteristics, LD 365 and LD 341
achieve highest of performance levels:
- high conversion of diolefins, styrenes and
indenes
- no conversion of aromatics
- low deactivation rates
- long cycles
- very good mechanical properties
- full regeneration potential
Axens’ portfolio of first stage hydrogenation
catalysts is exhibited in Table 5.
Relative Cycle
Trade Metal activity Relative length,*
name per LHSV years
volume
LD 265 Pd 2 1.5 - 2 0.8 - 1.5
LD 365 Pd 3 2.5 - 3 1-2
LD 241 Ni 1 1 0.5
LD 341 Ni 2 1.5 - 2 0.8 - 1.5
* Values obtained on full range gasoline i.e., C5-200 °C
Table 5 - First stage hydrogenation catalysts
Commercial experience with LD 365
There are many successful commercial applica-
tions of LD 365. A typical example is a pygas
unit in Germany designed by others. This unit
features a single first stage reactor catalyst bed
with no quench and a liquid recycle stream
distributed on the top of the bed. Before
switching to LD 365, the unit operated using
LD 265. The average feedstock characteristics
are given in Table 6 and the average first cycle
results are compared in Table 7.
 Diene value, g I2/100 g
Bromine number, g Br2/100 g
Sulfur, ppm
Table 6 - Average feedstock characteristics
LD 265 LD 365
Diene value, g I2/100 g
Bromine number, g Br2/100 g
Aromatics loss,%
First cycle, days
Table 7 - Effluent characteristics and first cy-
cle length for LD 365 compared to LD 265
The specified product Diene Value (DV) of 1.2
g I2 / 100 g was reached in the past without
problem with LD 265 catalyst, for a product
DV of 1. Switching to LD 365 enabled the DV
to be cut in half. The operator now enjoys a
substantially longer cycle because the rate of
pressure drop increase in the second stage reac-
tor is considerably slower.
Figure 10 shows the temperature variation at
the reactor inlet versus time. The End-of-Run
(EOR) temperature limit set by the operator for
this unit is 85 °C. With LD 265, this level was
reached after 200 days of operation. The first
cycle of LD 365 catalyst was terminated after
300 days on stream. This occurred before the
EOR limit was reached in order to allow for the
steam cracker turnaround. The curve has been
extrapolated to show that a cycle of 400 days,
twice that which was obtained with LD 265,
would have occurred. Further cycles have since
confirmed the full regenerability and out-
standing stability of LD 365. A unit designed
by Axens with a higher EOR temperature stan-
dard would have taken even further advantage
of the excellent performance of LD 365 cata-
lyst.
LD 365
Reactor Inlet
Temperature
End of Cycle Due to
Steam Cracker Shutdown
Customer’s EOR Criterion
LD 265 End of Cycle
0 100 200
Days on Stream
Figure 10 - Improved stability of LD 365 ver-
sus LD 265
25 LD 365 was developed not only to improve
70 diolefins hydrogenation activity but also to
60 improve the hydrogenation of styrene con-
tained in the pygas. Figure 11 presents
commercial results and shows that with
LD 365, styrene conversion levels are main-
tained between 80 and 90%. These levels are
1 0.5
much higher compared to LD 265, for which a
maximum 70% styrene conversion was possi-
60 60
ble. The improved styrene conversion is
0 0 beneficial for the second stage hydrogenation
200 > 300 cycle lengths.
Styrene Conversion, %
100
90
80
70
60
50
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Days on stream
Figure 11 - Commercial performance of
LD 365
Longer cycles with LD 341
The following example concerns a first stage
pygas hydrogenation unit that was operated
satisfactorily for many years with LD 241,
reaching the desired specification. Informed of
the new catalyst’s higher activity and resistance
to heavily contaminated feeds, the customer
decided recently to switch to LD 341. The ob-
jectives were to achieve longer cycles and to
operate the unit under similar conditions.
The objectives set by the customer have been
met successfully as depicted in Figure 12. The
first cycle reached with LD 341 was nine
months, whereas a six-month cycle with
LD 241 was typical in the past. This 50% in-
crease demonstrates the higher activity and
stability of LD 341, resulting lower start-of-run
temperatures and lower deactivation slope.
300 400
9
First Cycle Length, Months
10
8
6
4 0.00
2 Days on stream
0 Figure 14 - Pressure drop in first stage pygas
LD 241
Figure 12 - LD 341 extends cycle length by
50%
High activity and long cycles even with
heavily contaminated feedstocks
The high tolerance of LD 341 to catalyst poi-
sons was demonstrated recently in a first stage
pygas hydrogenation unit processing gasoline
containing arsenic in the 50 to 300 ppb concen-
tration range. Due to the high arsenic content,
the Pd catalyst originally planned for the unit
would have experienced very short one-month
cycle lengths. In order to reach acceptable cy-
cle lengths, LD 341 was installed and the unit
has since operated with great success: a first
cycle of one year has been reached.
Data shown in Figure 13 for the first six
months of the cycle demonstrate the efficient
styrene removal capacity of LD 341. The aver-
age styrene concentration in the feed was
reduced from 3.7% to less than 0.5%.
Styrene Concentration,
5
wt%
Average inlet styrene content
4
3 mechanical properties and full regenerability.
2
1 Styrene Content in Outlet
0
0 50 100
Days on stream
Figure 13 - Consistent styrene removal effec-
tiveness using LD 341 in a first stage
commercial pygas unit
Styrene polymerizing on the catalyst and caus-
ing pressure drop is a leading cause for ending
the run. Figure 14 presents the pressure drop
data for the same time period as represented in
Figure 13 and demonstrates that the pressure
drop remained stable.
Pressure Drop, bar
0.80
0.60
0.40
0.20
0 50 100 150 200
LD 341 unit using LD 341
Second stage pygas hydrogenation process
The second stage pygas hydrogenation process
serves to hydrogenate any traces of diolefins,
and the remaining olefins. It also completes the
hydrodesulfurization (HDS) process in order to
meet aromatics purity specifications.
Axens strongly recommends a dual bed for the
second stage reactor that has a layer of LD 145,
a special NiMo catalyst, placed on top and a
layer of HR 406, a CoMo catalyst, placed un-
derneath.
The purpose of the LD 145 layer is to ensure
that all traces of diolefins and a large part of
the olefins are converted before the flow
reaches the layer of HR 406, a well-proven
HDS catalyst that has an acidic alumina sup-
port. The acidic function of HR 406, necessary
for complete HDS, also accelerates polymeri-
zation of unsaturated compounds. The
polymerization products (gums) formed would
foul the catalyst and cause a rapid increase in
pressure drop.
Both catalysts are characterized by high activi-
ties, low deactivation rates, very good
Performance of stacked-bed commercial
units containing LD 145 and HR 406
150 200
The excellent performance of the LD 145 and
HR 406 stacked bed system is illustrated by the
following commercial data (figure 15, 16 and
17), obtained from a second stage pygas hy-
drogenation unit started-up recently and still
running as of this date.
Data for the first four months after start-up are
reported and the following observations are
noted as follows:
- no reactor inlet temperature increase has
been necessary during this time
10
- pressure drop increase is less than 0.05 bar Axens for Advanced Catalytic Solu-
- very efficient sulfur removal, as shown by tions
the outlet thiophene content of less than
0.05 ppm wt. The catalysts described in this brochure are
Reactor inlet temperature, °C enjoying considerable commercial success. In
282
fact, over the years Axens has become the
281
world’s leading supplier of hydrogenation
280
processes.
279
There are many reasons for this enviable posi-
278
tion:
277
• State-of-the-art production facilities in
276
Savannah, Georgia and Salindres, France
275
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000
• R&D support from one of the largest and
Hours on stream most capable organizations in the world
Figure 15 - Constant activity of LD 145 and • Huge bank of experience and industrial
HR 406 in stacked bed reactor system feedback acquired in a period of over fifty
years
Pressure drop, bar • Extensive and responsive worldwide sales
0.8
network
We are determined to enhance our position by
0.7 offering our customers continuously improved,
reliable, and up-to-date products and services.
0.6

0.5

0.4
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000

Hours on stream
Figure 16 - Pressure drop through LD 145 and
HR 406 stacked bed reactor system
Thiophene in Outlet,
ppm wt.
0.10

0.08

0.06

0.04

0.02

0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000

Hours on stream
Figure 17 - Very low thiophene concentration
in effluent from LD 145 and HR 406 stacked
bed system
April2003/PPV

11