Naphtha Composition With Enhanced Reformability

Abstract

Naphtha compositions with enhanced reformability are provided. The naphtha compositions can be derived from biomass, can exhibit improved N+2A values, and can be used as a reformer feedstock with little or no processing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A naphtha composition comprising at least 20 volume percent napthenes, at least 20 volume percent aromatics, and not more than 10 volume percent paraffins, wherein said naphtha composition has an N+2A value of at least 90 percent by volume. 
     
     
         2 . The naphtha composition of  claim 1  wherein said naphtha composition has a radiocarbon signature of at least 50 percent modern carbon (pMC) as measured by ASTM D6866-11. 
     
     
         3 . The naphtha composition of  claim 2  wherein at least a portion of said naphtha composition is a biomass-derived naphtha produced by thermo-catalytic conversion of a biomass material. 
     
     
         3 . The naphtha composition of  claim 2  wherein at least 75 weight percent of said naphtha composition boils at a temperature above 25° C. and below 225° C., wherein said naphtha composition has a mid-boiling point of at least 90° C. and not more than 150° C. 
     
     
         4 . The naphtha composition of  claim 2  wherein said naphtha composition has an N+2A value of at least 95 percent by volume. 
     
     
         5 . The naphtha composition of  claim 4  wherein said naphtha composition has a paraffins content of not more than 6 percent by volume, a naphthenes content of at least 20 percent by volume, an aromatics content of at least 20 percent by volume, and an olefins content of not more than 10 percent by volume. 
     
     
         6 . The naphtha composition of  claim 1  wherein said naphtha composition has a radiocarbon signature of at least 95 pMC as measured by ASTM D6866-11. 
     
     
         7 . The naphtha composition of  claim 6  wherein at least 90 weight percent of said naphtha composition boils at a temperature above 30° C. and below 200° C., wherein said naphtha composition has a mid-boiling point of at least 100° C. and not more than 140° C. 
     
     
         8 . The naphtha composition of  claim 7  wherein said naphtha composition has an N+2A value of at least 100 percent by volume, a paraffins content of not more than 6 percent by volume, a naphthenes content of at least 30 percent by volume, and an aromatics content of at least 25 percent by volume. 
     
     
         9 . The naphtha composition of  claim 1  wherein at least 95 weight percent of said naphtha composition boils at a temperature above 35° C. and below 175° C., wherein said naphtha composition has a mid-boiling point of at least 110° C. and not more than 130° C. 
     
     
         10 . The naphtha composition of  claim 1  wherein said naphtha composition has an N+2A value of at least 105 percent by volume, a paraffins content of not more than 4 percent by volume, a naphthenes content of at least 40 percent by volume, an aromatics content of at least 30 percent by volume, and an olefins content of not more than 10 percent by volume. 
     
     
         11 . A process for producing a fuel, said process comprising: reforming a naphtha in the presence of a reforming catalyst to thereby produce hydrogen and a reformate, wherein said naphtha has an N+2A value of at least 90 percent by volume and a paraffins content of not more than 10 percent by volume. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11  wherein said naphtha has a radiocarbon signature of at least 50 percent modern carbon (pMC) as measured by ASTM D6866-11. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 12  wherein at least 75 percent by volume of said naphtha is a biomass-derived naphtha that originates from a biomass material. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 13  wherein said biomass-derived naphtha is produced by thermo-catalytic conversion of said biomass material. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 12  wherein at least 75 weight percent of said naphtha boils at a temperature above 25° C. and below 225° C., wherein said naphtha has a mid-boiling point of at least 90° C. and not more than 150° C. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 15  wherein said naphtha has an N+2A value of at least 95 percent by volume. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 16  wherein said naphtha has a paraffins content of not more than 6 percent by volume, a naphthenes content of at least 20 percent by volume, an aromatics content of at least 20 percent by volume, and an olefins content of not more than 10 percent by volume. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 11  wherein said naphtha has a radiocarbon signature of at least 90 pMC as measured by ASTM D6866-11, wherein said naphtha has an N+2A value of at least 105 percent by volume and a paraffins content of not more than 4 percent by volume. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 11  wherein at least a portion of said naphtha is a hydrotreated naphtha that has previously been subjected to hydrotreatment, further comprising introducing at least a portion of said hydrogen into a hydrotreater used for said hydrotreatment. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 11  wherein said reforming is carried out at a temperature of at least 450° C. and not more than 600° C., wherein said reforming is carried out at a pressure of at least 2 atmospheres and not more than 75 atmospheres, wherein said reforming catalyst comprises at least one noble metal. 
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 11  wherein said reformate has a research octane number (RON) that is at least 5 percent greater than the RON of said naphtha. 
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 11  further comprising introducing at least a portion of said reformate into a petrochemical plant, wherein said petrochemical plant produces at least one mono-aromatic enriched stream comprising predominately benzene, toluene, xylenes, ethyl benzene, or cumene. 
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 11  wherein at least 90 weight percent of said naphtha boils at a temperature above 30° C. and below 200° C., wherein said naphtha has a mid-boiling point of at least 100° C. and not more than 140° C. 
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 23  wherein said naphtha has an N+2A value of at least 100 and not more than 150 percent by volume, a paraffins content of not more than 4 percent by volume, a naphthenes content of at least 30 and not more than 70 percent by volume, an aromatics content of at least 25 and not more than 60 percent by volume, an olefins content of not more than 5 percent by volume, and a sulfur content of less than 20 parts per million by weight. 
     
     
         25 . A process for producing a renewable fuel, said process comprising:
 (a) thermo-catalytically converting a biomass material to thereby produce a bio-oil;   (b) hydrotreating at least a portion of said bio-oil to thereby produce a hydrotreated bio-oil;   (c) fractionating at least a portion of said hydrotreated bio-oil to thereby produce at least a hydrotreated biomass-derived naphtha fraction and a hydrotreated bio-distillate fraction, wherein said hydrotreated biomass-derived naphtha fraction has an N+2A value of at least 90 percent by volume and a paraffins content of less than 10 percent by volume; and   (d) reforming at least a portion of said hydrotreated biomass-derived naphtha fraction to thereby produce hydrogen and a reformate.   
     
     
         26 . The process of  claim 25  wherein said bio-oil is not subjected to fractionation prior to said hydrotreating of step (b). 
     
     
         27 . The process of  claim 25  further comprising recovering heat from said hydrotreating of step (b) and using at least a portion of the recovered heat in said reforming of step (d). 
     
     
         28 . The process of  claim 25  wherein said hydrotreated biomass-derived naphtha fraction is not subjected to hydrocracking after said fractionating of step (c) and before said reforming of step (d). 
     
     
         29 . The process of  claim 25  wherein said fractionating of step (c) is carried out by heated distillation. 
     
     
         30 . The process of  claim 25  wherein said reforming of step (d) produces at least 600 standard cubic feet of said hydrogen per barrel of said hydrotreated biomass-derived naphtha fraction subjected to said reforming of step (d). 
     
     
         31 . The process of  claim 25  wherein at least a portion of said hydrogen is used in said hydrotreating of step (b). 
     
     
         32 . The process of  claim 25  wherein said biomass material comprises lignocellulose. 
     
     
         33 . The process of  claim 25  wherein said biomass material comprises wood particles.