Process for producing hydrocarbons from microbial lipids

Abstract

A process for producing hydrocarbons from microbial lipids is provided by: contacting a feed comprising microbial lipids, wherein the microbial lipids comprise a triglyceride content in the range of from 40 wt % to 70 wt % and a free fatty acid content in the range of from 10 wt % to 30 wt %, 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; optionally separating a liquid stream rich in paraffinic hydrocarbons from the effluent; 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 separating at least one product fraction from the product stream.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.