ABSTRACT
Hydrotreating is a process to catalytically stabilize petroleum products by converting olefins to paraffins or remove objectionable elements from products or feedstocks by reacting them with hydrogen. Stabilization usually involves converting unsaturated hydrocarbons such as olefins and gum-forming unstable diolefins to paraffins. Objectionable elements removed by hydrotreating include sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, halides, and trace metals. Hydrotreating is applied to a wide range of feedstocks, from naphtha to reduced crude. When the process is employed specifically for sulfur removal, it is usually called hydrodesulfurization. To meet environmental objectives, it also may be necessary to hydrogenate aromatic rings to reduce aromatic content by converting aromatics to paraffins.
