CoMo AND NiMo CATALYST STACKING FOR RENEWABLE DIESEL

A method for hydroprocessing sulfur-containing feeds, comprising:

• exposing a second feedstock comprising a second mineral fraction to a first supported catalyst comprising a Group VI metal and a Group VIII metal selected from Co or Ni in the presence of hydrogen under first effective hydrodesulfurization conditions to form a first effluent, the second feedstock containing less than about 0.5 wt % of a bio-derived fraction and at least about 800 wppm of sulfur, at least about 80 vol % of the first supported catalyst having been previously exposed to a first feedstock under first effective hydrodesulfurization conditions, the first feedstock comprising a first mineral fraction and a first bio-derived fraction and having an oxygen content of at least about 1.0 wt %, the first effective hydrodesulfurization conditions including a partial pressure of hydrogen of about 400 psig or less;
• exposing the first effluent to a second supported catalyst comprising a Group VI metal and a Group VIII metal selected from Co or Ni, in the presence of hydrogen under the second effective hydrodesulfurization conditions to form a first desulfurized product having a sulfur content of about 200 wppm or less, the selected Group VIII metal in the second catalyst being different from the selected Group VIII metal in the first catalyst, at least about 80 vol % of the second supported catalyst having been previously exposed to the first feedstock under the first effective hydrodesulfurization conditions;
• exposing a third feedstock comprising a third mineral fraction and a third bio-derived fraction to at least a portion of the first supported catalyst in the presence of hydrogen under third effective hydrodesulfurization conditions to form a second effluent, the third feedstock having an oxygen content of at least about 0.5 wt %, a sulfur content of at least about 800 wppm, and containing about 35 wt % or less of the second bio-derived fraction, the at least a portion of the first supported catalyst corresponding to at least about 80 vol % of the first supported catalyst that was exposed to the second feedstock;
• and
• exposing the second effluent to at least a portion of the second supported catalyst in the presence of hydrogen under the effective hydrodesulfurization conditions for forming a second desulfurized product having a sulfur content of about 200 wppm or less, the at least a portion of the second supported catalyst corresponding to at least about 80 vol % of the second supported catalyst that was exposed to the second feedstock.