Thesis (M.Sc. (Eng.))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, 2016. / The world is gradually shifting to renewable clean energy and away from fossil fuels which are considered to have a finite reserve and have negative impact on the environment. Many alternatives have been developed including biofuels. Of the biofuel family, not all products are produced at the same level given the differences in technological advancements. Commonly produced biofuels which are commercialised are bioethanol and biodiesel. Given that a large number of vehicles operate using gasoline, there is a need to develop biogasoline specific processes to produce biogasoline. Bioethanol is used as a blending agent and has a drawback of engine corrosion. Biogasoline can be used for blending or to substitute gasoline in existing motors. The main objective of the project was to produce biogasoline from waste cooking oil using nano-particle catalyst for better performance. A Co-Mo/Al2O3 catalyst was synthesized and tested in two processes namely thermal cracking and hydrocracking. The waste cooking oil used in this study was pre-treated to remove salts and excess water prior to cracking process. Various analytical techniques were then used to characterize the catalyst, waste cooking oil and the products. Waste cooking oil was successfully pre-treated for salt removal with salt dropping from 13.18% to 4.37%. Effect of catalyst performance on thermal cracking proved to be minimal with temperature being the major factor in cracking. The catalyst performed better under hydrocracking with effects of catalyst calcination temperature and catalyst/oil ratio being more apparent as opposed to thermal cracking. Highest percentage biogasoline achieved under thermal cracking was 81.6% at a reaction temperature of 600°C. The highest percentage biogasoline achieved under hydrocracking was 75.7% at a reaction temperature of 210°C, using calcined catalyst at 700°C, catalyst/oil mass ratio of 1/75 and reaction time of 1hr. The biogasoline produced had low sulphur content. The highest sulphur containing product for hydrocracking was 7.4% and that for thermal cracking was 1.3%. It is recommended that the hydrocracking and thermal cracking methods be used for biogasoline production and that further research be done on the optimization of the biogasoline production process and synthesis of nano Co-Mo catalyst. / MT2016

Effective distribution of hydrogen in refinery hydrogen networks is a major concern for refiners tackling the stringent specifications on maximum sulphur levels in middle distillates and the increasing global demand of diesel fuel. A major challenge is the implementation of a shift from conventional to ultra-deep methods of desulphurisation. Meanwhile, the capacity of secondary conversion processes such as fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) and hydrocracking in refineries has steadily increased in converting the bottom of the barrel into high-value lighter products resulting in increased levels of hydroprocessing, which exerts a higher demand on refinery hydrogen systems. Previous methodologies on hydrogen network optimization have been developed mainly based on the assumption of fixed hydroprocessing performance with constant hydrogen consumption and light hydrocarbon yields, in order to reduce the complexity of the optimisation problem. Consequently, critical interactions among feed and catalyst properties, hydroprocessor operating conditions, product quality and yields, and hydrogen consumption are usually neglected. This research work involves three major aspects: 1. Development of semi-empirical nonlinear lumped hydrodesulphurisation (HDS) and hydrocracker models that are robust and sufficiently detailed to capture the behaviour of the process with changes in feed characteristics and operating conditions. The formation of light hydrocarbons during HDS reactions have been accounted for. Hydrocracker conversion models and five/six-lumped product yield models for vacuum gas oil (VGO) and vacuum residue (VR) feedstocks have been developed from a combination of first principles and empirical methods based on several process parameters. The proposed models are validated with different feedstocks and shows good agreement with industrial data. 2. Integration of HDS and hydrocracker performance models into refinery hydrogen network models to explore existing interactions between processes and the hydrogen network, and their combined effect on the overall network objective. 3. Optimization of the overall superstructure under different operating scenarios to facilitate the efficient distribution and utilization of hydrogen and the maximization of clean high-value products. The integrated superstructure network model is developed and optimized within the General Algebraic Modelling System (GAMS). The model is representative of the dynamic interactions between hydrodesulphurisation and hydrocracking processes in the refinery hydrogen network as demonstrated by the reproducibility of industrial refinery data. Thus, this work presents a holistic and realistic implementation of refinery hydrogen management technique.

Two separate mechanistic kinetic models have been developed for the hydrocracking of complex feedstocks. The first model is targeted for the hydrocracking of vacuum gas oil. The second one addresses specifically the hydrocracking of long-chain paraffins, but at a more fundamental level as compared to the first one. Both models are based on an exhaustive computer generated reaction network of elementary steps. In the first model, the dehydrogenation/hydrogenation steps occurring on the metal sites to generate/consume the reactive olefinic intermediates are assumed to be very fast so that the acid site steps are considered as the rate determining steps. The frequency factors for acid site steps are modeled using the single-event concept and the activation energies based on the nature of the reactant and product carbenium ions. This model utilizes a detailed composition of the vacuum gas oil characterized by 16 different molecular classes up to carbon number 40. These classes are divided into 45 subclasses by distinguishing the isomers of a class according to the number of methyl branches. The kinetic model is plugged into an adiabatic multi-bed trickle flow reactor model. The model contains 33 feedstock and temperature independent parameters which have been estimated from the experimental data. The model has been used to study the effect of the operating conditions on the yield and composition of various products. A sensitivity analysis of the distribution of isomers of a class among its different subclasses has been performed showing that the total conversion increases when the content of isomers with a higher degree of branching is increased in the feed. In the second model, the dehydrogenation/hydrogenation steps on the metal sites are also assumed to be rate determining. The rate coefficients for the dehydrogenation steps are modeled depending on the nature of the carbon atoms forming the double bond. The frequency factors for the acid site steps are modeled using the single-event concept. A more rigorous approach has been selected to model the activation energies of the acid site steps by implementing the Evans-Polanyi relationship. The 14 model parameters, which are independent of the temperature and feedstock composition, have been estimated from the experimental data. The model elucidates the effect of the relative metal/acid activity of the catalyst on the isomerization/cracking selectivities and on the carbon number distribution of the products.

Synthetic fuels produced using the Fischer-Tropsch technology will play an important role in the future of the transportation sector. The Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) allows converting synthesis gas (CO + H2) into fuels of outstanding quality. The synthesis gas can be obtained from different carbon sources: natural gas, coal and biomass. In order to maximize the yield of middle distillates, the process is carried out in two main steps: the FT-synthesis that produces long-chain hydrocarbons (waxes) and a hydrocracking step, to selectively convert the waxes into fuels. Diesel produced by this process is characterized by excellent combustion properties and reduced harmful tailpipe emissions compared to conventional diesel. Due to the growing interest in synthetic fuel production, from the industry and the academia, and to the peculiar characteristics of the Fischer-Tropsch products, research in hydrocracking has received renewed attention. Catalysts for the hydrocracking of long-chain paraffins have been the subject of the present work, which is the summary of four scientific publications. Noble metals supported on acid carriers have been compared, especially for what regards the mechanisms through which hydrocracking proceeds. The catalysts were synthesized and characterized by various techniques, including N2 physisorption, H2 chemisorption, TEM, pyridine adsorption FTIR, ammonia TPD, etc. It was shown that catalytic activity is mainly dependent on the acid support used; that selectivity is strongly dependent on conversion, high conversion favoring highly branched cracking products. Two main reaction routes were observed: bifunctional hydrocracking and hydrogenolytic cracking. Platinum-containing catalysts showed high selectivity towards the latter, while palladium/silica-alumina behaved as pure bifunctional catalysts. Catalyst deactivation was investigated and initial sintering of metal particles was observed. Coking was also a cause of deactivation. Formation of coke deposits was highly dependent on the metal loading of the catalysts. Metal loading also influenced catalyst selectivity, especially in the case of platinum/silica-alumina catalysts. Monofunctional hydrogenolysis on the platinum particles, superimposed to the bifunctional mechanism was observed. This route increased selectivity towards linear hydrocarbons and methane, with increasing amounts of platinum. The specific rate of hydrogenolysis was constant for different loadings of platinum on the same acid silica-alumina support. Using a different, less acid, support negatively affected the hydrogenolytic activity of the platinum catalytic sites. It was concluded that metal-support interactions might play an important role in the catalytic properties of platinum surfaces. This work has contributed to increasing the knowledge about hydrocracking of long-chain alkanes and pointed out some features that might have practical interest in the application of this technology to synthetic-fuel production. / Syntetiska drivmedel tillverkade genom Fischer-Tropsch teknologin kommer i framtiden att ha en betydande roll för transportsektorn. Fischer-Tropsch syntesen (FTS) möjliggör omvandling av syntesgas (CO + H2) till högkvalitativa bränslen. Syntesgasen kan erhållas från olika kolkällor: naturgas, kol och biomassa. För att maximera utbytet av medeldestillat, utförs processen i två huvudsteg: FT-syntes som producerar långa kolväten (vaxer) och ett hydrokrackning steg, för att selektivt omvandla vaxerna till bränslen. Diesel som produceras med denna process kännetecknas av utmärkta förbränningsegenskaper och ger upphov till minskade utsläpp av skadliga ämnen jämfört med vanlig diesel. På grund av det växande intresset för syntetiska bränslen, både från industrin och den akademiska världen, och av de speciella egenskaperna hos Fischer-Tropsch-produkter, har forskningen i vätekrackning fått förnyad uppmärksamhet. Ämnet för detta arbete, som är en sammanfattning av fyra vetenskapliga publikationer, är katalysatorer för hydrokrackning av långkedjiga paraffiner. Ädelmetaller uppburna på sura bärare har jämförts, särskilt vad gäller vätekrackningsmekanismer. Katalysatorerna preparerades och karaktäriserades med hjälp av olika tekniker, bland andra N2 fysisorption, H2 kemisorption, TEM, pyridin adsorption FTIR, ammoniak TPD, etc. Det visade sig att den katalytiska aktiviteten är främst beroende av surheten hos bärarmaterialet, att selektivitet är starkt beroende av omsättningen, där hög omsättning gynnar flergrenade krackningsprodukter. Två huvudsakliga reaktionsvägar observerades: bifunktionell vätekrackning och hydrogenolytisk crackning. Platinakatalysatorer visade hög selektivitet mot det senare, medan katalysatorer med palladium på kiseloxid-aluminiumoxid uppträdde som rena bifunktionella katalysatorer. Katalysatordeaktivering undersöktes och sintring av metallpartiklar observerades. Koksning var också en orsak till deaktivering. Koksbildning var starkt beroende av metallhalten i katalysatorerna. Metallhalten påverkade också selektivitet, särskilt för platina-kiseloxid-aluminiumoxidkatalysatorer. Monofunktionellt hydrogenolys på platinapartiklarna, observerades utöver den bifunktionella mekanismen. Med denna reaktionsväg ökade selektivitet mot linjära kolväten och metan, med ökande platinahalter på katalysator. Den specifika reaktionshastigheten för hydrogenolys var konstant för olika platinahalter på en sur kiseloxid-aluminiumoxidbärare. Den hydrogenolytiska aktiviteten hos platina katalytiska säten påverkas negativt när en mindre sur bärare användes. Slutsatsen var att interaktioner mellan metallen och bäraren kan spela en viktig roll för de katalytiska egenskaperna hos platina ytor. Detta arbete har bidragit till att öka kunskapen om vätekrackning av långkedjiga alkaner och påpekade vissa funktioner som kan ha praktiskt intresse vid tillämpningen av denna teknik för produktionen av syntetiska bränslen. / <p>QC 20131007</p>

L'objectif de cette thèse était d'étudier l'influence de la texture poreuse et de l'acidité des catalyseurs d'hydrocraquage, sur l'activité et la sélectivité en distillats moyens. Dans notre étude, nous avons envisagé deux approches : d'une part la préparation des catalyseurs à partir de la zéolithe Y à texture poreuse optimisée, et d'autre part à partir d'une silice mésoporeuse de type MCM-48. Dans la première approche, l'optimisation de la texture poreuse a été réalisée par un traitement post synthèse de dessilication d'une zéolithe Y commerciale (CBV760). Les propriétés physico-chimiques des matériaux résultants ont été évaluées par différentes techniques de caractérisation. L'évaluation de ces matériaux en hydrocraquage de molécules modèles montre une très nette amélioration de la sélectivité en coupe moyenne par rapport à un catalyseur de référence à texture poreuse non optimisée. Dans la seconde approche, nos efforts ont été dirigés vers l'optimisation de l'acidité des solides de type MCM-48. Pour cela une méthode de greffage post-synthèse d'alumine à la surface de ce solide a été envisagée, conduisant à l'obtention d'une acidité suffisante pour la réaction d'hydrocraquage. L'évaluation catalytique de ces matériaux montre qu'ils sont des catalyseurs performants en hydrocraquage et en hydroisomérisation / The objective of this thesis was to prepare hydrocracking catalysts for heavy feedstocks with improved selectivity into middle distillates. In this study we followed two strategies: on the one hand the preparation of catalysts based on a zeolite Y with enhanced porosity, and on the other hand using a mesostructured silica (MCM-48). In the first approach, the optimization of the porous texture was realized by desilication of zeolite Y ( CBV760) in alkaline medium. Physico-chemical properties of obtained materials were investigated by various characterization techniques. The evaluation of these materials in the hydrocracking of model molecules shows a clear improvement of the selectivity into middle distillate with regards catalysts. In the second approach, our efforts were oriented towards the optimization of the acidity of MCM-48 type materials. To achieve this goal, an alumina layer was grafted on the surface of this material, generating an adequate acidity for the hydrocracking reaction. The catalytic evaluation of these materials shows a high selectivity inti middle distillates.

L’objectif de cette thèse est d’étudier l’influence de l’architecture poreuse de zéolithes à porosité multimodale sur la sélectivité de catalyseurs dans l’hydrocraquage de charges lourdes, et aussi d’établir des relations prédictives propriétés/performances des matériaux catalytiques.Plusieurs séries de matériaux modèles possédant des réseaux mésoporeux secondaires différents ont été préparés par traitement alcalin de zéolithes de référence de type faujasite, par dessilication et par recristallisation en présence d’agent structurant organique. Les différentes méthodes de structuration de la mésoporosité ont été comparées et discutées en termes de rendements de synthèse des matériaux micro-mésoporeux, de volumes mésoporeux créés, de distribution de tailles des mésopores et de leur co-localisation avec les micropores. Des catalyseurs bifonctionnels ont ensuite été préparés par introduction d'une fonction hydrogénante/déshydrogénante, et utilisés pour l’hydroconversion du n-hexadecane et du squalane.L'activité des catalyseurs, exprimée par la vitesse de réaction à 230°C dans la conversion dun-hexadecane, et à 210°C dans celle du squalane, est linéairement corrélée au nombre de sites acides forts de la zéolithe.Quel que soit le mode de restructuration du réseau mésoporeux et l'architecture de celui-ci, une augmentation du volume mésoporeux conduit à un gain de sélectivité en isomères, produits primaires de réaction, et de symétrie de la distribution de produits de craquage. La sélectivité des catalyseurs, caractérisée par le rendement maximum en isomères, est gouvernée par le transfert de matière au sein des cristaux zéolithiques. Une corrélation directe entre le coefficient de diffusion effectif du n-hexane et la sélectivité des catalyseurs a été établie. / The objective of this thesis is to study the influence of the porous architecture of zeolites with multimodal porosity on the selectivity of catalysts in the hydrocracking of heavy feedstock and also to establish predictive relations between properties and performances of catalytic materials.Several series of model materials possessing different secondary mesoporous networks have been prepared by treating in alkaline medium faujasite reference zeolites either by desilication and or by recrystallization in the presence of an organic structuring agent. The different mesoporosity structuring methods were compared and discussed in terms of yields, created mesoporous volumes, mesopore size distribution and their co-localization with micropores. Bifunctional catalysts were then prepared by introducing a hydrogenating/dehydrogenating function and used for the hydroconversion of n-hexadecane and squalane.The activity of the catalysts, expressed as the reaction rate at 230°C in the conversion ofn-hexadecane and at 210°C in the case of squalane, is linearly correlated with the number of strong acid sites of the zeolite. Whatever the restructuring process of the mesoporous network and its architecture, an increase in the mesoporous volume leads to a higher selectivity into isomers, primary reaction products, and a higher symmetry of the distribution of cracking products. The selectivity of the catalysts, characterized by the maximum yield of isomers, is governed by the transfer of matter within the zeolite crystals. A direct correlation between the effective diffusion coefficient of n-hexane and the selectivity of the catalysts was established.

La distillation fractionnée des coupes pétrolières brutes se révèle insuffisante, pour répondre seule aux besoins en carburants et génère de fortes quantités de distillats à longue chaîne carbonée (C20-C50). Cette coupe d’hydrocarbures peu valorisable est ainsi transformée en molécules hydrocarbonées plus légères, par le biais de deux procédés : le craquage catalytique en lit fluidisé ou l’hydrocraquage. Ce dernier permet le craquage sélectif des hydrocarbures essentiellement en gazole et kérosène. Les catalyseurs acides utilisés sont « bifonctionnels » : une matrice zéolithique USY (zéolithe Y ultra-stabilisée) favorise le craquage des hydrocarbures, pendant qu’un sulfure mixte ou un métal noble greffé catalyse les réactions d’hydrogénation et de déshydrogénation. L’objectif de ce travail de thèse consiste à maximiser la sélectivité en distillats moyens, en diminuant le temps de séjour des molécules d’hydrocarbures dans la structure zéolithique, afin de réduire les réactions de surcraquage. Pour cela, il a été choisi de synthétiser directement des nanocristaux de zéolithe Y sans agent organique structurant, avec un rapport Si/Al le plus élevé possible. Cette propriété leur confère une meilleure stabilité lors des post-traitements, indispensables pour atteindre le rapport Si/Al des zéolithes USY actuellement utilisées. Grâce à l’élaboration d’une nouvelle stratégie de synthèse, des nanocristaux compris entre 20 et 90 nm avec un rapport Si/Al variant de 2,2 à 2,6 ont été obtenus. Puis, l’obtention de la forme protonée de ces nanocristaux (90 nm) a été étudiée et des mesures d’acidité ont également été effectuées. / The fractionated distillation of crude oil is not sufficient to cover all the fuel needs and produces large amounts of long chain carbon distillates (C20-C50). Thus, these hydrocarbons are transformed into lighter hydrocarbon molecules by two processes: fluid catalytic cracking or hydrocracking. The latter allows the selective cracking of hydrocarbons essentially in gas oil and kerosene. The acid catalysts used are “bifunctional”: a zeolite matrix USY (ultra-stabilized zeolite Y) performs the hydrocarbons cracking, at the same time a sulfide or a noble metal catalyzes hydrogenation and dehydrogenation reactions. The aim of this work is to maximize the selectivity to middle distillates by decreasing the residence time of hydrocarbon molecules in the zeolite framework. For this, it was chosen to directly synthesize zeolite Y nanocrystals with the highest possible Si/Al ratio, in a SDA-free medium. This property gives them a better stability during the post-treatments essential to reach the Si/Al ratio of the currently used USY zeolite. Thanks to a new synthesis strategy, nanocrystals between 20 and 90 nm with a Si/Al ratio varying from 2.2 to 2.6 were obtained. Then, the protonated form of these nanocrystals (90 nm) was studied and acidity measurements were also carried out.

Submitted by Maria Medeiros (maria.dilva1@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-09-12T14:38:14Z No. of bitstreams: 1 RUCILANA PATRÍCIA BEZERRA CABRAL - TESE (PPGEP) 2008.pdf: 6571244 bytes, checksum: d2b524bd924cc294214a4507138e3b56 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-12T14:38:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 RUCILANA PATRÍCIA BEZERRA CABRAL - TESE (PPGEP) 2008.pdf: 6571244 bytes, checksum: d2b524bd924cc294214a4507138e3b56 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-07-06 / Devido ao aumento na produção de óleo pesado, a indústria do refino voltou-se para os processos de hidrocraqueamento (HCC) que fornecem combustíveis básicos e leves atendendo as exigências da sociedade moderna. O processo HCC é realizado, geralmente, sob temperaturas e pressões elevadas na presença do hidrogênio e de um catalisador de hidrocraqueamento. As cargas de petróleo brasileiras inevitavelmente contêm muitas impurezas, como os compostos orgânicos nitrogenados. Estes compostos de nitrogênio presentes nas cargas de hidrocraqueamento atuam como venenos temporários dos catalisadores, resultando numa diminuição de atividade destes catalisadores. Normalmente, os catalisadores de HCC compreendem de um suporte ácido mais um componente hidrogenante selecionado do Grupo VIB e do grupo VIII da Tabela periódica dos Elementos, na forma de óxido ou sulfeto. Zeólita Beta e SAPO-5 foram propostos para serem usados como suportes ácidos. A respeito do componente hidrogenante, a combinação de metais usados, expressada como óxidos, foi NiO-MoO3. Uma série de catalisadores NiMo suportados em Zeólita Beta e SAPO-5, de diferentes composições, foram preparados por impregnação seqüencial úmida dos materiais utilizando soluções aquosas precursoras de Ni(NO3)2.6H2O e (NH4)6 Mo7O24. 4H2O. Os suportes e catalisadores foram analisados pelas técnicas: Difração de raios-X (DRX), Espectrometria de Emissão Atômica de Plasma Acoplado Induzido (ICPAES), Adsorção Física de N2 pelo método BET, Redução com Temperatura Programada (RTP), Microscopia Eletrônica de Transmissão (MET), Espectroscopia no Infravermelho de piridina adsorvida (IV), Espectroscopia de Refletância Difusa (DRS) e Espectroscopia de Ressonância Magnética Nuclear (RMN). Os catalisadores NiMo sulfetados foram avaliados usando um reator tubular de fluxo contínuo, no hidrocraqueamento do cumeno na presença e ausência de piridina. Foi verificado que os catalisadores suportados em zeólita Beta promoveram maiores conversões que os suportados em SAPO-5, principalmente o que usou zeólita Beta (Si/Al=8,2) com 4%NiO e 15%MoO3. A presença da piridina foi prejudicial à performance de todos os catalisadores, inclusive para os padrões cedidos pelo CENPES. / Due to the increasing of the heavier crude oil feedstocks production, the oil refining industry has turned to hydrocracking (HCK) processes to provide the lighter basic fuels which modern society demands. The HCK process is generally carried out under high temperatures and pressures in the presence of the hydrogen and a HCK catalyst. The feedstocks of the Brazilian crudes inevitably contain many impurities, such as organic nitrogen compounds. These nitrogen compounds present in the feeds of hydrocracking process act as, temporary poisons to the catalysts, thereby decreasing the catalyst activity. Usually, hydrocracking catalysts comprise of an acidic support plus a hydrogenating component selected from the Group VIB metals and Group VIII metals of the Periodic Table of the Elements, in their oxide or sulfide form. Beta zeolite and SAPO-5 are proposed as acidic support materials for hydrocracking. Regarding the hydrogenation component the combination of the metals used in the form of oxides, was NiO-MoO3. A series of NiMo catalysts supported on Beta zeolite and SAPO-5, of different compositions, were prepared by sequential incipient wetness impregnation of the materials with aqueous solutions of Ni(NO3)2 . 6H2O and (NH4)6 Mo7O24.4H2O. The supports and catalysts were analyzed by several techniques such as: X-ray diffraction (XRD), plasma-emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), N2 physical adsorption by BET method, temperature programmed reduction (TPR), transmission electronic microscopy (TEM), infrared spectroscopy of adsorbed pyridine (IR), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The sulfide NiMo catalysts were evaluated using a continuous-flow tubular reactor by the cumene hydrocracking in the presence and absence of pyridine. It was verified that the NiMo catalysts based on Beta zeolite produced the highest cumene conversion than those based on SAPO-5, particularly the one with Beta zeolite (Si/Al=8,2) containing 4%NiO and 15%MoO3. The presence of nitrogen as pyridine was detrimental for the performance of all catalysts, including the standards one, supplied for the CENPES.

La diminution en pétrole brut léger nécessite de convertir les fractions lourdes en produits valorisables (essences, gazoles, huiles, etc.). Dans ce contexte, l'hydrocraquage (HCK) fournit des produits de très haute qualité à partir de distillats sous vide (DSV) du pétrole brut. La qualité des coupes obtenues est caractérisée par des propriétés physico-chimiques qui sont soumises à des spécifications. L'optimisation du procédé nécessite des expérimentations longues et coûteuses. IFPEN a donc de plus en plus recours à des tests sur unité d'expérimentation haut débit (EHD). Ces derniers posent cependant un problème d'accessibilité aux coupes d'intérêt. Par ailleurs, pour comprendre et prédire l'impact des conditions opératoires sur la qualité des produits, des simulateurs sont développés. Certaines propriétés de produits sont cependant complexes et difficiles à modéliser voire mal comprises. Ce travail de thèse a porté sur l'amélioration de la compréhension moléculaire des propriétés produits pour une meilleure prédiction. Dans cette étude, nous nous sommes focalisés sur le point de trouble (PT) de la coupe gazole et l'indice de viscosité (VI) de l'huile obtenue lors de l'hydrocraquage de DSV. Deux techniques d'analyse moléculaire ont été utilisées : la chromatographie en phase gazeuse bidimensionnelle (GC×GC) qui permet de déterminer la composition par famille chimique des différentes coupes et la résonance magnétique nucléaire (RMN) du 13C qui fournit des informations sur la structure chimique des hydrocarbures présents dans ces mélanges. Nous présentons les résultats obtenus par une régression multivariée parcimonieuse (sparse Partial Least Squares) appliquée aux données GC×GC et 13C RMN. Il s'agit d'une variante de la PLS classique qui permet de réduire le nombre de facteurs tout en privilégiant ceux qui sont les plus corrélés à une propriété d'intérêt donnée. Globalement, cette étude a notamment permis de mieux comprendre l'impact des différents hydrocarbures (n-paraffines, isoparaffines, aromatiques,…) et de leur structure moléculaire (longueur de chaînes, degrés de branchements,…) sur le PT des gazoles et le VI des huiles. La bonne qualité des modèles obtenus par sparse PLS montre par ailleurs la possibilité d'accéder à la qualité des produits lors de l'utilisation d'EHD. Des modèles de prédiction par krigeage ont également été développés. Cette méthode d'interpolation permet de prédire une propriété en un point donné en effectuant une moyenne pondérée des observations au voisinage de ce point. Les modèles de krigeage sont des modèles locaux adaptés aux structures de données complexes. Ce sont des approches probabilistes qui permettent d'estimer les incertitudes de prédiction. Aussi bien dans le cas du PT de la coupe gazole que dans celui du VI de la coupe huile, les résultats montrent une amélioration des performances. Cette approche est tout à fait novatrice dans le domaine des produits pétroliers. Lors de l'utilisation d'unités EHD, elle permet d'accéder au VI des huiles de base plus aisément que via des données chromatographiques ou spectroscopiques, qui sont de plus non accessibles en raffinerie / The rapid decline in light crude oils requires to convert heavy petroleum fractions into more valuable products (naphtha, diesel, lubricants, etc.). In this context, hydrocracking process (HCK) consists on upgrading vaccum gas oil (VGO) into high quality products. The quality of petroleum products is based on some chemical and physical properties that should fulfill prerequisite specifications. The hydrocracking process optimization requires to set up time consuming and costly experiments for developing catalysts and setting operating conditions. High throughput experimentation (HTE) units are then increasingly used at IFPEN. However, these units do not enable to obtain end products. Otherwise, predictive models were developed in order to understand and predict the impact of operating conditions about products quality. However, some complex properties are very difficult to model and require a better understanding. This work is mainly concerned with the understanding of diesel cloud point (CP) and viscosity index (VI) of base oils. Two analytical techniques were used: the two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) that enables to identify hydrocarbons compounds in petroleum products and the 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy which provides structural characteristics of these compounds. A sparse multivariate regression (sparse Partial Least Squares) was performed using chromatographic and spectroscopic data. The sparse PLS is derived from classical PLS. It allows to reduce the number of factors by performing a variable selection. The selected factors are the most correlated to the property to model. Globally, this approach enabled to better understand how hydrocarbon compounds (nparaffins, isoparaffins, aromatics,…) and their molecular characteristics (carbon number, degree of branching,…) affect the diesel CP and the VI of base oil. Furthermore, the good performances of developed sparse PLS models show that it is possible to access to the products quality when using HTE units. Kriging models were also developed. Kriging is an interpolation method that predicts the value of a function at a given point by computing a weighted average of the known values of the function in the neighborhood of the point. Kriging models have local aspect which is well adapted to complex data. Its probabilistic approach enables to provide an estimate of predicted value uncertainty. Results show that kriging improves predictive performances for both diesel CP and VI of base oil. This approach is quite innovative in modelling of petroleum products properties. When using HTE units, it allows to estimate the VI of base oil more easily than from chromatographic or spectroscopic data which are not available for the refiners

L’emploi de cristaux de zéolithe USY comme fonction acide et de phases sulfures de type NiMoS comme fonction hydro/deshydrogénante (H/DH) dispersée sur un liant de type alumine [NiMoS/(_-Al2O3 + USY)] permet l'obtention de catalyseurs bifonctionnels d’hydrocraquage très actifs mais dont la sélectivité en distillats moyens est relativement faible. Une des causes invoquées pour expliquer ces performances est la distance importante entre les sites H/DH et les sites acides qui entraine des réactions secondaires et la formation de produits légers. Dans ce travail, une phase H/DH additionnelle (nickel) a été insérée dans des zéolithes USY par différentes méthodes afin d’obtenir des catalyseurs contenant une phase sulfure localisée au plus proche des sites acides. L’utilisation de zéolithes imprégnées à sec et échangées avec du nickel dans des catalyseurs typiques d’hydrocraquage permet d’obtenir de meilleures activités et sélectivités en distillats moyens en hydroconversion du squalane (2,6,10,15,19,23- hexamethyltetracosane) que l’utilisation de zéolithe ne contenant pas de Ni. L’étude de la relation structure-réactivité des catalyseurs a permis de mettre en évidence que l’amélioration de la proximité entre fonction acide et fonction H/DH est bien à l’origine de l’amélioration des propriétés catalytiques. De plus, l’utilisation d’une zéolithe dans laquelle le nickel a été inséré à la synthèse conduit aussi à des résultats prometteurs. Ce travail ouvre ainsi une voie d’amélioration pour des catalyseurs d'hydrocraquage plus actifs et plus sélectifs en distillats moyens par insertion d’une phase H/DH additionnelle / Hydrocracking bifunctional catalysts can be obtained using USY zeolite crystals as an acid function and NiMoS metal sulfide phase as a hydro/dehydrogenating (H/DH) function dispersed on an alumina binder [NiMoS/(_-Al2O3 + USY)]. These catalysts are very active but have a moderate selectivity towards middle distillates. One of the suggested explanations is the large distance between the two different types of catalytic sites leading to secondary reactions and to the formation of light products. In this work, an additional H/DH phase (nickel) has been inserted in USY zeolites using various methods in order to obtain catalysts in which a sulfided phase is located in the vicinity of the acid sites. The use of impregnated or ion exchanged nickel containing zeolites in a typical hydrocracking catalyst leads to higher activities and middle distillates selectivities in the squalane (2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosane) hydroconversion reaction than the use of bare zeolites. According to the structure-reactivity relation of the catalysts, these enhancements are ascribed to an increased proximity between the H/DH function and the acid sites. Moreover, the use of a synthesized Ni-zeolite leads to promising results. The use of an additional H/DH phase as an optimization route for the production of more active and selective hydrocracking catalysts is then clearly supported by this work