PROCESS FOR PRODUCING HYDROCARBONS FROM MICROBIAL LIPIDS

摘要

The present invention provides for a process for producing hydrocarbons from microbial lipids, comprising the steps of : (a) contacting a feed comprising microbial lipids with a hydrogenation catalyst and hydrogen at a temperature in the range of from 250 to 380 °C and a total pressure in the range of from 20 to 160 bar (absolute), to obtain an effluent comprising paraffinic hydrocarbons and water; (b) optionally separating a liquid stream rich in paraffinic hydrocarbons from the effluent obtained in step (a); (c) contacting the paraffinic hydrocarbons in the liquid stream rich in paraffinic hydrocarbons or the effluent comprising paraffinic hydrocarbons by contacting hydrogen and the liquid stream with hydroisomerisation catalyst at a temperature in the range of from 280 to 450 °C and a total pressure in the range of from 20 to 160 bar (absolute); and (d) separating at least one product fraction from the product stream obtained in step (c), wherein the hydrogenation catalyst of step (a) and/or the hydroisomerisation catalyst of step (c) comprises a sulphided hydrogenation catalyst.