MgO-supported Mo, CoMo and NiMo sulfide hydrotreating catalysts

The most common preparation of high surface area MgO (100–500 m² g⁻¹) is calcination of Mg(OH)₂ obtained either by precipitation or MgO hydration or sol–gel method. Preparation of MoO₃/MgO catalyst is complicated by the high reactivity of MgO to H₂O and MoO₃. During conventional aqueous impregnation, MgO is transformed to Mg(OH)₂, and well soluble MgMoO₄ is easily formed. Alternative methods, that do not impair the starting MgO so strongly, are non-aqueous slurry impregnation and thermal spreading of MoO₃. Mo species of MoO₃/MgO catalyst are dissolved as MgMoO₄ during deposition of Co(Ni) by conventional aqueous impregnation. This can be avoided by using non-aqueous impregnation. Co(Ni)Mo/MgO catalysts must be calcined only at low temperature because Co(Ni)O and MgO easily form a solid solution. Literature data on hydrodesulfurization (HDS) activity of MgO-supported catalysts are often contradictory and do not reproduced well. However, some results suggest that very highly active HDS sites can be obtained using this support. Co(Ni)Mo/MgO catalysts prepared by non-aqueous impregnation and calcined at low temperature exhibited strong synergism in HDS activity. Co(Ni)Mo/MgO catalysts are much less deactivated by coking than their Al₂O₃-supported counterparts. Hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) activity of Mo/MgO catalyst is similar to the activity of Mo/Al₂O₃. However, the promotion effect of Co(Ni) in HDN on Co(Ni)Mo/MgO is lower than that on Co(Ni)Mo/Al₂O₃.     

NiO/Al_2O_3基催化剂的TPR特性研究

NiO/Al_2O_3基催化剂用于替代贵金属催化剂,被广泛应用于石油和石化领域生产过程的加氢、脱硫和脱氮。采用TPR方法,研究不同Ni含量NiO/Al_2O_3及不同载体的催化剂还原特性。结果表明,NiO/Al_2O_3催化剂在10%H_2-Ar气氛下,还原温度范围较宽,为(300~800)℃,其中,(500~600)℃还原速率最大;随着NiO含量的增加,起始还原温度降低,还原耗氢量按比例增加;以MgO为载体的NiO催化剂还原呈现双峰特征,以SiO2和TiO2为载体的NiO催化剂的初始还原温度比NiO/Al_2O_3催化剂降低(100~200)℃。     

Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of NiMo/SiO2–Al2O3 catalysts prepared by the pH-swing method

NiMo/(X)SiO₂–Al₂O₃ catalysts were synthesized with various SiO₂ contents (X = 0, 10, 25 and 50 wt%) using the pH-swing method. In order to find the optimum SiO₂ content, the catalysts were evaluated in the hydrodesulfurization of 4,6-DMDBT, hydrogenation of naphthalene and hydrodenitrogenation of carbazole. Kinetic parameters of Langmuir–Hinshelwood type equations for all the reaction systems were estimated. FTIR analysis of CO adsorption for the sulfided catalysts shows that the amount of coordinatively unsaturated Mo sites promoted by nickel (CUS-NiMoS) follows the order NiMo/10ASA > NiMo/25ASA > NiMo/0ASA. This tendency agrees with the results obtained in catalytic activity.     

Reactor and in situ FTIR studies of Pt/BaO/Al2O3 and Pd/BaO/Al2O3 NOx storage and reduction (NSR) catalysts

The reduction of NO under cyclic “lean”/“rich” conditions was examined over two model 1 wt.% Pt/20 wt.% BaO/Al₂O₃ and 1 wt.% Pd/20 wt.% BaO/Al₂O₃ NO_x storage reduction (NSR) catalysts. At temperatures between 250 and 350 °C, the Pd/BaO/Al₂O₃ catalyst exhibits higher overall NO_x reduction activity. Limited amounts of N₂O were formed over both catalysts. Identical cyclic studies conducted with non-BaO-containing 1 wt.% Pt/Al₂O₃ and Pd/Al₂O₃ catalysts demonstrate that under these conditions Pd exhibits a higher activity for the oxidation of both propylene and NO. Furthermore, in situ FTIR studies conducted under identical conditions suggest the formation of higher amounts of surface nitrite species on Pd/BaO/Al₂O₃. The IR results indicate that this species is substantially more active towards reaction with propylene. Moreover, its formation and reduction appear to represent the main pathway for the storage and reduction of NO under the conditions examined. Consequently, the higher activity of Pd can be attributed to its higher oxidation activity, leading both to a higher storage capacity (i.e., higher concentration of surface nitrites under “lean” conditions) and a higher reduction activity (i.e., higher concentration of partially oxidized active propylene species under “rich” conditions). The performance of Pt and Pd is nearly identical at temperatures above 375 °C.     

Effects of alumina incorporation in coprecipitated NiO–Al2O3 catalysts

The effect of Al₂O₃ levels on the properties of NiO in coprecipitated NiO–Al₂O₃ samples were investigated, using samples with up to 60.7 wt.% Al₂O₃ that had been calcined in the range 300–700°C. Characterization techniques included BET surface area of fresh and reduced catalysts, X-ray diffraction analysis of structure and crystallite size, magnetic susceptibility measurements, oxidizing power, and reducibility in H₂. Only NiO was detected in samples with up to 4.1 wt.% Al₂O₃ for all sample calcination temperatures. Surface areas were similar for all fresh samples but decreased rapidly after calcination at high temperatures. The surface area loss was less for the higher Al₂O₃-containing samples. Nickel oxide crystallite sizes increased at higher calcination temperatures, but remained approximately the same for each Al₂O₃ level.

The NiO was nonstoichiometric (NiO_1+x), with x decreasing at higher calcination temperatures and increasing with small amounts of added Al₂O₃ through a maximum at about 3 wt.% Al₂O₃. However, this did not correlate well with microstrain in the NiO crystallites nor with reducibility, which decreased with Al₂O₃ addition. At higher levels of Al₂O₃ (13.6 wt.% and above), surface areas increased with higher Al₂O₃ loadings, but NiO crystallite sizes remained approximately the same, independent of both Al₂O₃ content and calcination temperature. X-ray diffraction patterns were very diffuse, and it was not possible to rule out the presence of pseudo-spinel combinations of NiO and Al₂O₃. Reducibility was more difficult than with low Al₂O₃ levels, and nonstoichiometry was low and independent of Al₂O₃ content.

Reducibilities of all samples calcined at 300°C correlated well with the final BET surface area of the reduced samples, indicating that more dispersed NiO crystallites are more difficult to reduce, a conclusion that supports a model for reduction proposed previously.     

ZrO2/SiO2- and La2O3/Al2O3-supported platinum catalysts for CH4/CO2 reforming

Surface-phase ZrO₂ on SiO₂ (SZrOs) and surface-phase La₂O₃ on Al₂O₃ (SLaOs) were prepared with various loadings of ZrO₂ and La₂O₃, characterized and used as supports for preparing Pt/SZrOs and Pt/SLaOs catalysts. CH₄/CO₂ reforming over the Pt/SZrOs and Pt/SLaOs catalysts was examined and compared with Pt/Al₂O₃ and Pt/SiO₂ catalysts. CO₂ or CH₄ pulse reaction/adsorption analysis was employed to elucidate the effects of these surface-phase oxides.

The zirconia can be homogeneously dispersed on SiO₂ to form a stable surface-phase oxide. The lanthana cannot be spread well on Al₂O₃, but it forms a stable amorphous oxide with Al₂O₃. The Pt/SZrOs and Pt/SLaOs catalysts showed higher steady activity than did Pt/SiO₂ and Pt/Al₂O₃ by a factor of three to four. The Pt/SZrOs and Pt/SLaOs catalysts were also much more stable than the Pt/SiO₂ and Pt/Al₂O₃ catalysts for long stream time and for reforming temperatures above 700 °C. These findings were attributed to the activation of CO₂ adsorbed on the basic sites of SZrOs and SLaOs.     

Catalytic removal of perchloroethylene (PCE) over supported chromium oxide catalysts

The oxidation of perchloroethylene (PCE) was investigated over chromium oxide catalysts supported on SiO₂, SiO₂–Al₂O₃, activated carbon, mordenite type zeolites, MgO, TiO₂ and Al₂O₃. Supported chromium oxide catalysts were more active than any other metal oxide catalysts including noble metal examined in the present study. PCE removal activity of chromium oxide catalysts mainly depended on the type of supports and the content of metal loaded on the catalyst surface. TiO₂ and Al₂O₃ containing high surface areas were effective for the high performance of PCE removal, since the formation of well dispersed Cr(VI) active reaction sites for the present reaction system, was enhanced even for the high Cr loading on the catalyst surface. CrO_x catalysts supported on TiO₂ and Al₂O₃ also exhibited stable PCE removal activity at a low feed concentration of PCE of 30 ppm up to 100 h at 350°C. However, significant catalyst deactivation was observed at high PCE concentration of 10 000 ppm. CrO_x/TiO₂ revealed stronger water tolerance than CrO_x/Al₂O₃ due to the surface hydrophobicity.     

Study on the supported Cu-based catalysts for the low-temperature water–gas shift reaction

This paper presents a study on the influence of support (Al₂O₃, MgO, SiO₂-Al₂O₃, SiO₂-MgO, β-zeolite, and CeO₂) of Cu-ZnO catalysts for the low-temperature water–gas shift reaction. Supported Cu-ZnO catalysts were prepared by the conventional impregnation method, followed by the H₂ reduction. The activity of Cu-ZnO catalysts for the water–gas shift (WGS) reaction was largely influenced by the kind of support; Cu-ZnO catalysts supported on Al₂O₃, MgO, and CeO₂ showed high activity, while those on SiO₂-Al₂O₃, SiO₂-MgO and β-zeolite showed less activity in the temperature range 423–523 K. XRD analysis demonstrated that the copper species were highly dispersed on the supports used in the present study, except for a MgO support. TPR results of a series of supported CuO-ZnO catalysts suggest that the reducibility of CuO is one of the important factors controlling the activity of the WGS reaction over the supported catalysts.     

Hydrodesulfurization of dibenzothiophenes over molybdenum catalyst supported on TiO2–Al2O3

Composite types of TiO₂–Al₂O₃ supports, which are γ-aluminas coated by titania, have been prepared by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), using TiCl₄ as a precursor. Then supported molybdenum catalysts have been prepared by an impregnation method. As supports, we employed γ-alumina, anatase types of titania, and composite types of TiO₂–Al₂O₃ with different loadings of TiO₂. We studied the conversion of Mo from oxidic to sulfidic state through sulfurization by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The obtained spectra unambiguously revealed the higher reducibility from oxidic to sulfidic molybdenum species on the TiO₂ and TiO₂–Al₂O₃ supports compared to that on the Al₂O₃ support. Higher TiO₂ loadings of the TiO₂–Al₂O₃ composite support led to higher reducibility for molybdenum species. Furthermore, the catalytic behavior of supported molybdenum catalysts has been investigated for hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of dibenzothiophene (DBT) and methyl-substituted DBT derivatives. The conversion over the TiO₂–Al₂O₃ supported Mo catalysts, in particular for the 4,6-dimethyl-DBT, is much higher than that obtained over Al₂O₃ supported Mo catalyst. The ratio of the corresponding cyclohexylbenzene (CHB)/biphenyl (BP) derivatives is increased over the Mo/TiO₂–Al₂O₃. This indicates that the prehydrogenation of an aromatic ring plays an important role in the HDS of DBT derivatives over TiO₂–Al₂O₃ supported catalysts.     

Tailoring of alumina surfaces as supports for NiMo sulfide catalysts in the ultra deep hydrodesulfurization of gas oil: case study of TiO2-coated alumina prepared by chemical vapor deposition technique

The present paper gives a detailed review of the different studies under investigation in our laboratory concerning the use of TiO₂ and TiO₂–Al₂O₃ composites prepared by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) as support for sulfide catalysts in the HDS of dibenzothiophene (DBT) derivatives. The supports investigated here are: TiO₂ (from Degussa, 50 m²/g), Al₂O₃ (Nikki, 186 m²/g) and TiO₂–Al₂O₃ supports prepared by CVD of TiCl₄ on alumina. Using several characterization techniques, we have demonstrated that the support composite presents a high dispersion of TiO₂ over γ-Al₂O₃ without forming precipitates up to ca. 11 wt.% loading. Moreover, the textural properties of the support composite are comparable to those of alumina. XPS investigations of Mo and NiMo catalysts supported on the different carriers show that Mo-oxide species exhibit a higher degree of sulfidation on the surface of TiO₂ and TiO₂–Al₂O₃ than on alumina. The HDS tests of 4,6-DMDBT under mild operating conditions (573 K, 3 MPa) show that sulfide catalysts supported on the composite support (ca. 11 wt.%) are more active than those supported on to TiO₂ or Al₂O₃. This higher HDS catalytic activity is attributed to the promotion of the hydrodesulfurization pathway, whereby the pre-hydrogenation of one of the aromatic rings adjacent to the thiophenic one may reduce the steric hindrance caused by the two methyl groups adjacent to the sulfur atom during the C–S bond cleavage.     

Comparison of catalytic activity and selectivity of Pd/(OSC + Al2O3) and (Pd + OSC)/Al2O3 catalysts

The effect of the Pd addition method into the fresh Pd/(OSC + Al₂O₃) and (Pd + OSC)/Al₂O₃ catalysts (OSC material = Ce_xZr_1−xO₂ mixed oxides) was investigated in this study. The CO + NO and CO + NO + O₂ model reactions were studied over fresh and aged catalysts. The differences in the fresh catalysts were insignificant compared to the aged catalysts. During the CO + NO reaction, only small differences were observed in the behaviour of the fresh catalysts. The light-off temperature of CO was about 20 °C lower for the fresh Pd/(OSC + Al₂O₃) catalyst than for the fresh (Pd + OSC)/Al₂O₃ catalyst during the CO + NO + O₂ reaction. For the aged catalysts lower NO reduction and CO oxidation activities were observed, as expected. Pd on OSC-containing alumina was more active than Pd on OSC material after the agings. The activity decline is due to a decrease in the number of active sites on the surface, which was observed as a larger Pd particle size for aged catalysts than for fresh catalysts. In addition, the oxygen storage capacity of the aged Pd/(OSC + Al₂O₃) catalyst was higher than that of the (Pd + OSC)/Al₂O₃ catalyst.     

TiO2-coated on Al2O3 support prepared by the CVD method for HDS catalysts

Mo---Co or Mo---Ni catalysts supported on alumina (Al₂O₃) have been widely used for hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of heavy petroleum fractions. In order to enhance the catalytic activities for HDS, a composite type support (TiO₂-Al₂O₃) prepared by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method has been studied. We found that Mo catalyst supported on TiO₂-Al₂O₃ showed much higher catalytic activity for HDS of dibenzothiophene derivatives than the catalysts supported on Al₂O₃.     

Ammonium complex of niobium as a precursor for the preparation of Nb2O5/Al2O3 catalysts

Ammonium oxalate complex of niobium was investigated as an aqueous precursor for the preparation of x% Nb₂O₅/Al₂O₃ (x=5, 10, 20 and 30 wt.%) samples. Catalysts with the same Nb₂O₅ contents were also prepared from the traditional niobium oxalate/oxalic acid aqueous solution. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), infrared spectroscopy of chemisorbed pyridine and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). A comparison with the preparation method using the niobium oxalate salt was performed. The results showed that the niobium precursor influence the species growing leading to phases with different reducibility. The XPS revealed the presence of multilayers of niobium oxide on the Nb₂O₅/Al₂O₃ samples prepared by using niobium ammonium oxalate complex, while the ones obtained from niobium oxalate led to Nb₂O₅ particles islands. The addition of niobium oxide decreased the fraction of Lewis acid sites and increased the fraction of Brønsted acid sites, independent of the precursor salt. However, the creation of BAS was more pronounced on the Nb₂O₅/Al₂O₃ samples prepared from niobium oxalate.     

Surface characterization of Al2O3–SiO2 supported NiMo catalysts: An effect of support composition

Al₂O₃–SiO₂ mixed oxide has been investigated as a support for hydrotreating catalyst with variation of its composition [Si/(Si + Al) = 0.06, 0.12, 0.31, 0.56, 0.78] and its interaction with the surface active metals (NiMo). The composition of support and surface species (NiMo) of catalysts were characterized by specific surface area, atomic absorption, SEM-EDX, XRD, temperature programmed reduction (TPR), Raman analysis, scanning electron microscopy (STEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Incorporation of SiO₂ in Al₂O₃ promotes a weak interaction between the active phases and particularly catalyst that predominated with SiO₂ content. The oxide and sulfided catalysts characterization indicated that the effect of support is responsible to form different catalytic sites. Crystallization of MoO₃ phases and a relatively longer crystal of MoS₂ in the sulfided catalyst were attributed to an increasing SiO₂ content in the support. The catalytic behavior of the NiMo supported catalysts is explained in terms of structural changes on the surface due to the support and active metal interactions. The activity of the different catalysts evaluated in the thiophene hydrodesulfurization reaction was higher for the catalyst having lower SiO₂ content in the support.     

Characterization and activity in dry reforming of methane on NiMg/Al and Ni/MgO catalysts

Dry reforming of methane has been investigated on two series of catalysts either prepared by co-precipitation: n(Ni_xMg_y)/Al, Ni_xMg_y and Ni_xAl_y or prepared by impregnation: Ni/MgO (mol% Ni = 5, 10). The catalysts, calcined at 600–900 °C, were characterized by different techniques: BET, H₂-TPR, TPO, XRD, IR, and TEM-EDX analysis. The surface BET (30–182 m² g⁻¹) decreased with increasing the temperature of calcination, after reduction and in the presence of Mg element. The XRD analysis showed, for n(Ni_xMg_y)/Al catalysts, the presence of NiAl₂O₄ and NiO–MgO solid solutions. The catalyst reducibility decreased with increasing the temperature of pretreatment. The n(Ni_xMg_y)/Al catalysts were active for dry reforming of methane with a good resistance to coke formation. The bimetallic catalyst Ni_0.05Mg_0.95 (calcined at 750 °C and tested at 800 °C) presents a poor activity. In contrast, the 5% Ni/MgO catalyst, having the same composition but prepared by impregnation, presents a high activity for the same calcination and reaction conditions. For all the catalysts the activity decreased with increasing the temperature of calcination and a previous H₂-reduction of the catalyst improves the performances. The TPO profiles and TEM-EDX analysis showed mainly four types of coke: CH_x species, surface carbon, nickel carbide and carbon nanotubes.     

A new route to prepare supported nickel phosphide/silica–alumina hydrotreating catalysts from amorphous alloys

Supported nickel phosphides were prepared by treating an amorphous Ni–B alloy on silica–alumina support with phosphine (15 vol.% PH₃/H₂) at relatively low temperature. The amorphous Ni–B/SiO₂–Al₂O₃ precursors were synthesized by silver-induced electroless plating. The amorphous precursors and catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, BET surface area and inductively coupled plasma measurements. The transmission electron micrographs of the Ni₂P/SiO₂–Al₂O₃ particles with their size ranging from 60 to 80 nm showed that they were homogeneously dispersed over the SiO₂–Al₂O₃ support. The as-prepared catalysts exhibited an excellent catalytic activity in the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of dibenzothiophene.     

Performance of La1−xSrxAl1−y−y′FeyMgy′O3−δ perovskites in methane combustion: effect of aluminum and magnesium content

Perovskites of different La_1−xSr_xAl_1−y−y′Fe_yMg_y′O_3−δ compositions (x=0, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2 and y=0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.8) were prepared from a reactive precursor slurry of hydrated oxides. Each sample was aged between 16 and 26 h up to 1473 K. Activity in methane combustion (1%/air) was determined in a plug-flow reactor, with 1 g catalyst and 24 l/h flowrate. Gradual decrease in activity due to thermal aging was observed, the degree of activity loss being composition dependent. Nevertheless, activity of samples aged at 1370 K was nearly independent of composition. The best thermal stability showed LaAl_0.65Fe_0.15Mg_0.2O₃ perovskite. None of the magnesium substituted perovskites performed better than a La_0.85Sr_0.15Al_0.87Fe_0.13O₃ reference sample.     

Methane combustion on Mg-doped LaMnO3 perovskite catalysts

LaMn_1−xMg_xO₃ perovskite catalysts (x=0–0.5) were synthesised by the so-called “citrates method”, characterised (chemical analysis, TEM, BET, XRD, temperature-programmed desorption of oxygen) and tested for their activity towards the catalytic combustion of methane. The role of MgO as a textural promoter, which hinders the sintering of the catalyst crystals by geometrical interposition, has also been assessed. Finally, a kinetics study was performed on the most promising catalysts prepared (LaMnO₃ and LaMn_0.8Mg_0.2O₃). The major results obtained are: (i) Mg substitution in the basic LaMnO₃ perovskite has a positive effect on the catalytic activity only at low x values (x≤0.2); (ii) as opposed to the results of previous studies on the LaCr_1−xMg_xO₃ system, the role of MgO as a textural promoter is not always significant and depends strongly on the calcination temperature of the samples (800–1200°C) and on the value of x; (iii) an Eley–Rideal mechanism could satisfactorily fit the experimental kinetics results for both catalysts, even though, as opposed to LaMnO₃, the catalytic combustion over LaMn_0.8Mg_0.2O₃ seems to involve two different types of adsorbed oxygen species, depending on the operating temperature.     

Preparation and structural characterization of Co/Al2O3 catalysts for the ozonation of pyruvic acid

A series of Co/Al₂O₃ catalysts were prepared by the incipient wetness impregnation method using γ-Al₂O₃ support and (CH₃COO)₂Co·4H₂O solutions, followed by calcination at 500–800 °C. Characterization of catalysts was accomplished by several techniques such as thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), physisorption of nitrogen, mercury and helium-based pycnometries, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and pH of zero charge (PZC). Impregnation of support produced a moderate decrease of its surface area and pore volume and also led to minor changes of its PZC. Depending on preparation conditions (i.e., calcination atmosphere and temperature and metal loading), one or more of the following Co-containing compounds were identified: CoO, Co₃O₄ and CoAl₂O₄. The support and prepared Co/Al₂O₃ catalysts were tested to catalyze the ozonation of aqueous pyruvic acid at pH 2.5. Pyruvic acid was shown refractory towards single ozonation but the use of γ-Al₂O₃ and Co/Al₂O₃ catalysts resulted in 56–96% pyruvic acid conversion and 41–78% decrease in DOC after 2 h of ozonation of phosphate-buffered solutions. In the absence of the buffer, conversion rate was enhanced likely as a result of pH increase during the course of the process thus giving rise to the indirect way of ozonation through hydroxyl radicals. Acetic acid was found as the main by-product of pyruvic acid ozonation. Depending on the catalyst used, yield of acetic acid varied from 32 to 49%, values noticeably lower that that obtained from the control non-catalytic ozonation experiment (73%). Differences in catalytic activity amongst the various Co/Al₂O₃ catalysts investigated were attributed to the different Co active phases deposited on the γ-Al₂O₃ surface. The following sequence of increasing activity can be inferred from experimental results: CoO, CoAl₂O₄ and Co₃O₄. All the Co/Al₂O₃ catalysts prepared showed good stability as the percentage of cobalt leached out was rather low.     

Investigation of CoNiMo/Al2O3 catalysts: Relationship between H2S adsorption and HDS activity

Sulfidation of trimetallic CoNiMo/Al₂O₃ catalysts was studied by thermogravimetry at 400 °C under flow and pressure conditions. Results were compared with those obtained on prepared and industrial CoMo/Al₂O₃ and NiMo/Al₂O₃ catalysts. The amount of sorbed H₂S on the sulfided solids was measured at 300 °C in the H₂S pressure range 0–3.5 MPa at constant H₂ pressure (3.8 MPa). The adsorption isotherms were simulated using a model featuring dissociated adsorption of H₂S on supported metal sulfides and bare alumina. The amount of sulfur-vacancy sites could thus be determined under conditions close to industrial practice. A relationship with activity results for thiophene HDS and benzene hydrogenation was sought for.