MEJORAMIENTO DE LA CALIDAD DEL ACEITE LIVIANO DE CICLO MEDIANTE TRATAMIENTO CON CLORUROS METÁLICOS

Abstract

Light cycle oil (LCO) is a cracked distillate of boiling range equivalent to diesel fuel. It is characterized by high contents of sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen and polyaromatic compounds. These compounds are instability precursors which limit LCO use as fuel on diesel blends.

This work presents the results obtained from the acid treatment of LCO. Different Lewis acids such as metallic chlorides were used to interact with nitrogen compounds in LCO, the more basic ones; an acid-base complex is formed, which is easily separated from the LCO because of its low solubility.

Through the acid treatment, nitrogen compounds are removed almost completely and the LCO color is improved.