Hydrogen generation by catalytic partial dehydrogenation of low-sulfur fractions produced from kerosene Jet A-1

Fractionation of kerosene by rectification leads to fuel fractions characterized by different proportions of iso-paraffins, n-paraffins, cyclic, dicyclic, aromatics and diaromatics. Fractions of progressively higher boiling point range are characterized by progressively higher average carbon chain length, as well as increasing content of sulfur containing molecules. Three fractions, corresponding to 5, 14 and 32 wt.%.of the original kerosene and having boiling point ranges 140-150 degrees C; 150-160 degrees C; 160-170 degrees CM, respectively, containing predominantly C-8-C-9, C-9-C-10 and C-10, respectively, and 4, 12 and 24 ppm sulfur, respectively, were fed to a partial dehydrogenation reactor using a Pt-Sn/BaO-gamma-Al2O3 catalyst. A hydrogen productivity increase up to a factor 3 for the low-boiling point fraction compared to the original kerosene is observed. The catalyst durability is significantly increased due to lower sulfur and coke deposition on the catalyst for the low boiling point fraction. The fractionation of kerosene Jet A-1 fuel by rectification is a promising approach for the enhancement of durable hydrogen generation via partial dehydrogenation. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.