Abstract: New hydrocracking catalyst RHC-3 was developed for hydrocracking unit to produce tail oil used as steam cracking feedstock. The flexibility of processing inferior feedstock under high pressure by RHC-3 catalyst was studied in a hydrocracking pilot plant. Test data showed that good product slates and product properties were obtained by using RHC-3 catalyst, particularly the properties of tail oil were improved significantly. The application results of RHC-3 catalyst in a 2.0 Mt/a high pressure hydrocracking unit indicated that good quality tail oil with low BMCI value and high alkane content was produced; meanwhile, the yield of tail oil could be kept at a high level.

Key words: tail oil, catalyst, reaction performance, hydrocracking , commercial application