Process for hydrotreating a coal tar stream

Abstract

A process for hydrotreating a coal tar stream is described. A coal tar stream is provided, and the coal tar stream is fractionated into at least a light naphtha range hydrocarbon stream having a boiling point in the range of about 85° C. (185° F.) to about 137.8° C. (280° F.). The light naphtha range hydrocarbon stream is hydrotreated by contacting the light naphtha range hydrocarbon stream with a naphtha hydrotreating catalyst.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process comprising:
 providing a coal tar stream;   fractionating the coal tar stream into at least a light naphtha range hydrocarbon stream having a boiling point in a range of about 85° C. (185° F.) to about 137.8° C. (280° F.); and   hydrotreating the light naphtha range hydrocarbon stream by contacting the light naphtha range hydrocarbon stream with a naphtha hydrotreating catalyst.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein hydrotreating the light naphtha range hydrocarbon stream removes sulfur, nitrogen, or both. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1  wherein hydrotreating the light naphtha range hydrocarbon stream removes sulfur to provide a hydrotreated stream having a sulfur concentration of less than about 0.2 ppm. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the naphtha hydrotreating catalyst comprises molybdenum and one or more of cobalt and nickel. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the naphtha hydrotreating catalyst comprises nickel and molybdenum. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the light naphtha range hydrocarbon stream comprises a hexane insoluble stream, a benzene insoluble stream, or both. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising:
 blending the hydrotreated stream with a gasoline stream. 
 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising:
 reforming the hydrotreated stream to provide an aromatics stream. 
 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1  wherein providing a coal tar stream comprises pyrolyzing a coal feed in a pyrolysis zone to provide the coal tar stream and a coke stream. 
     
     
         10 . A process comprising:
 pyrolyzing a coal feed into at least a coke stream and a coal tar stream in a pyrolysis zone, the coal tar stream having a boiling point greater than about 400 C;   hydrotreating the coal tar stream by contacting the coal tar stream with a naphtha hydrotreating catalyst; and   fractionating the hydrotreated stream to provide at least one light hydrocarbon stream.   
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10  wherein the coal tar stream has a molecular weight distribution between about 100 and about 4,000. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 10  wherein the coal tar stream has a molecular weight distribution between about 250 and about 700. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 10  wherein hydrotreating the coal tar stream removes sulfur, nitrogen, or both. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 10  wherein hydrotreating the coal tar stream removes sulfur to provide a hydrotreated stream having a sulfur concentration of less than about 0.2 ppm. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 10  wherein the naphtha hydrotreating catalyst comprises nickel and molybdenum. 
     
     
         16 . A process comprising:
 pyrolyzing a coal feed into at least a coke stream and a coal tar stream in a pyrolysis zone, the coal tar stream having a boiling point greater than about 400° C.;   contacting the coal tar stream with a solvent in a solvent extraction zone to provide a heavy insoluble fraction and a light soluble fraction;   separating the heavy insoluble fraction from the light soluble fraction; and   hydrotreating the heavy insoluble fraction by contacting the heavy insoluble fraction with a kerosene or distillate hydrotreating catalyst at a temperature of between about 550° C. and about 700° C. and at a pressure of between about 4.8 MPa (700 psi) and about 8.3 MPa (1,200 psi).   
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 16  wherein the coal tar stream has a molecular weight distribution between about 100 and about 4000. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 16  wherein the coal tar stream has a molecular weight distribution between about 250 and about 700. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 17  wherein the solvent is a hydrocarbon fraction. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 19  wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of benzene and hexane.