Process Simulation of Diesel into Aromatics and Carbon Nanotubes: A Techno and Economic Analyses

[Image: see text] With the sustainable increase of renewable energy and the maturation of heavy vehicle market, diesel consumption would face a downward trend worldwide. Herein, we have proposed a new route for hydrocracking of light cycle oil (LCO) into aromatics and gasoline and the tandem conversion of C(1)–C(5) hydrocarbons (byproducts) into carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and H(2), and by combining the simulation with Aspen Plus software and the experimental study of C(2)–C(5) conversion, we have built a transformation network including LCO to aromatics/gasoline, C(2)–C(5) to CNTs and H(2), the conversion of CH(4) into CNTs and H(2), and the cycle use of H(2) with pressure swing adsorption. Mass balance, energy consumption, and economic analysis were discussed as a function of varying CNT yield and CH(4) conversion. 50% of H(2) required for hydrocracking of LCO can be supplied by the downstream chemical vapor deposition processes. This can greatly reduce the cost of high-priced hydrogen feedstock. If the sale price of CNTs exceeds 2170 CNY per ton, the entire process would break even for a process of dealing with 520,000 t/a LCO. These results imply the great potential of this route, considering the vast demand and the current high price of CNTs.