Blending of dewaxed biofuels with mineral-based kero(jet) distillate cuts to provide on-spec jet fuels

Abstract

The present invention describes a method of making a jet fuel composition comprising: providing a mineral-based kero/jet-type distillate component having certain enumerated physico-chemical properties, typically an off-spec jet fuel; providing a deoxygenated and dewaxed renewable component derived from triglycerides and/or fatty acids and having an isoparaffin to normal paraffin ratio from about 2:1 to about 6:1 and an aromatics content less than about 1 vol %; and blending from about 75 vol % to about 97 vol % of the mineral-based distillate components with from about 3 vol % to about 25 vol % of the renewable component to form an on-spec blended jet fuel composition.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of making a jet fuel composition comprising:
 providing a mineral-based kero/jet-type distillate component having an initial boiling point of at least about 100° C. and two or more of the following enumerated properties: a T90 boiling point from about 260° C. to about 295° C.; a final boiling point from about 275° C. to about 300° C.; a freezing point from about −45° C. to about −20° C.; a smoke point from about 14 mm to about 19 mm; a naphthalene content from about 2.8 vol % to about 3.5 vol %; a JFTOT VTR rating failing the jet fuel specification; and a sulfur content from about 2000 wppm to about 3500 wppm;   providing a deoxygenated and dewaxed renewable component derived from triglycerides and/or fatty acids and having an isoparaffin to normal paraffin ratio from about 2:1 to about 6:1 and an aromatics content less than about 1 vol %; and   blending from about 75 vol % to about 97 vol % of the mineral-based distillate components with from about 3 vol % to about 25 vol % of the renewable component to form a jet fuel composition having two or more of the following enumerated properties: a final boiling point of at most 300° C. or at least 7° C. below the final boiling point of the mineral-based distillate component alone; a freezing point of at most −40° C. or at least 4° C. less than the freezing point of the mineral-based distillate component alone; a smoke point of at least 18 mm or at least 2 mm more than the smoke point of the mineral-based distillate component alone; a naphthalene content of at most 3.0 vol % or at least 0.3 vol % lower than the naphthalene content of the mineral-based distillate component alone; a JFTOT VTR rating passing the jet fuel specification; and a sulfur content of at most 3000 wppm or at least 150 wppm less than the sulfur content of the mineral-based distillate component alone.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the mineral-based distillate composition has a T90 boiling point from about 270° C. to about 285° C. and a final boiling point from about 285° C. to about 299° C. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the blended jet fuel composition has all of the enumerated properties. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the mineral-based distillate composition has at least five of the enumerated properties. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the providing of the renewable component comprises:
 providing a raw renewable triglyceride and/or fatty acid composition having an oxygen content and wherein at least 85% of acyl chains have from 9 to 15 carbons;   contacting the raw renewable composition with an H 2 -containing gas in the presence of a deoxygenation catalyst under conditions sufficient to achieve an oxygen content of less than 100 wppm and/or to reduce the oxygen content by at least 98% by weight; and   simultaneously with or following the deoxygenation step, performing dewaxing by contacting with an H 2 -containing gas in the presence of a dewaxing catalyst under conditions sufficient to predominantly cause isomerization and to cause minimal cracking, such that the product of the dewaxing step has the requisite isoparaffin to normal paraffin ratio and aromatics content.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the deoxygenation and dewaxing steps are simultaneously performed using a single supported metal catalyst, in which an active metal component is disposed on a catalyst support. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the catalyst support comprises a zeolitic support exhibiting a 1-dimensional 10-ring pore structure. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the catalyst support comprises zeolite beta, zeolite Y, ultrastable zeolite Y, dealuminized zeolite Y, ZBM-30, ZSM-22, ZSM-23, ZSM-35. ZSM-48, MCM-41, MCM-48, or a combination or intergrowth thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein the active metal component comprises a metal from Groups 8-10 of the Periodic Table of Elements, and optionally also comprises a metal from Group 6 of the Periodic Table of Elements. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the active metal component comprises a noble metal selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, ruthenium, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein the active metal component comprises at least one of cobalt, nickel, and iron, and also comprises molybdenum and/or tungsten. 
     
     
         12 . A blended jet fuel composition made according to the method of  claim 5 . 
     
     
         13 . A method of making a jet fuel composition comprising:
 providing a mineral-based jet-type distillate component having a smoke point of at least about 20 mm;   blending from about 4 vol % to about 15 vol % of a heavy cat naphtha with from about 85 vol % to about 96 vol % of the mineral-based jet-type distillate component to form a jet-type blend having a smoke point no more than about 18 mm;   providing a hydrotreated renewable component derived from vegetable oil, which renewable component comprises triglycerides and/or fatty acids and has an aromatics content less than about 1 vol %;   blending from about 8 vol % to about 15 vol % of the jet-type blend with from about 85 vol % to about 92 vol % of the hydrotreated vegetable oil component to form a jet fuel composition having a smoke point of at least 19 mm and at least 0.8 mm higher than the smoke point of the jet-type blend, as well as one or more of the following enumerated properties: a final boiling point of at most 300° C. or at least 7° C. below a final boiling point of the jet-type blend alone; a freezing point of at most −40° C. or at least 4° C. less than a freezing point of the jet-type blend alone; a naphthalene content of at most 3.0 vol % or at least 0.3 vol % lower than a naphthalene content of the jet-type blend alone; a JFTOT VTR rating passing the jet fuel specification; and a sulfur content of at most 3000 wppm or at least 150 wppm less than a sulfur content of the jet-type blend alone.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the jet fuel composition has a smoke point of at least about 19.5 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of blending an additional amount from about 0.5 vol % to about 3 vol % of heavy cat naphtha with the jet fuel composition to form a modified jet fuel composition having a smoke point between 19.0 mm and 19.2 mm, as well as a final boiling point of at most 300° C., a freezing point of at most −40° C., a naphthalene content of at most 3.0 vol %, a JFTOT VTR rating passing the jet fuel specification, and a sulfur content of at most 3000 wppm.