Process for producing paraffinic hydrocarbons

1. A process for producing paraffinic hydrocarbons from a feedstock comprising triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides and/or fatty acids, the process:

(a) hydrodeoxygenating the triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides and/or fatty acids in the feedstock by contacting hydrogen and the feedstock with a hydrogenation catalyst 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;

(b) obtaining a liquid stream rich in paraffinic hydrocarbons and a gaseous stream depleted in water from the effluent obtained in step (a); and

(c) hydroisomerising the paraffinic hydrocarbons in the liquid stream rich in paraffinic hydrocarbons by contacting hydrogen and the liquid stream with a hydroprocessing catalyst comprising sulphided Ni and sulphided W or Mo as hydrogenation components on a carrier comprising amorphous silica-alumina and/or a zeolitic compound 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)

wherein the gaseous stream depleted in water is recycled to step (a) and/or step (c);

wherein at least part of the gaseous stream depleted in water is purified in a purification unit before being recycled to step (a) and/or step (c); and

wherein the purification unit is a pressure swing adsorber and part of the gaseous stream depleted in water is bypassing the pressure swing adsorber.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises cooling the effluent obtained in step (a) to a temperature in a range of 10 to 150 degrees C. and subjecting the cooled effluent to a pressure in a range of 0.5 to 10 bar lower than the total pressure in step (a) to obtain the gaseous stream depleted in water and the liquid stream rich in paraffinic hydrocarbons.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein obtaining the liquid stream rich in paraffinic hydrocarbons comprises separating the liquid stream rich in paraffinic hydrocarbons and a gaseous stream rich in water from the effluent obtained in step (a) in a separator having a temperature in a range of 160 to 350 degrees C. and a pressure in a range of 0.5 to 10 bar lower than the total pressure of an outlet of a reactor vessel in which step (a) is carried out.

4. The process of claim 3 wherein obtaining the gaseous stream depleted in water comprises removing water from the gaseous stream rich in water in a separator having a temperature in a range of 10 to 150 degrees C. and a pressure in a range of 0.5 to 10 bar lower than the total pressure of an outlet of a reactor vessel in which step (a) is carried out.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the hydrogenation catalyst of step (a) is a sulfided catalyst.

6. The process of claim 5 wherein a sulfur source is supplied to the hydrogenation catalyst and the effluent of step (a) further comprises hydrogen sulfide.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein the feedstock comprises vegetable oil, animal fat, fish oil, or a combination of one or more thereof.

8. The process of claim 7 wherein the feedstock comprises one or more vegetable oils.

9. The process of claim 7 wherein the one or more vegetable oils is rape seed oil and/or palm oil.

10. The process of claim 1 wherein the effluent of step (c) is separated into a gaseous effluent and a liquid effluent comprising paraffinic hydrocarbons boiling in the diesel range.