A series of NiMo/Al2O3 catalysts containing boron and phosphorus: Part II. Hydrodenitrogenation and hydrodesulfurization using heavy gas oil derived from Athabasca bitumen

The hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) and hydrodesulfurization (HDS) activity of a series of NiMo/Al₂O₃ catalyst containing boron (B) and phosphorus (P) were tested in a trickle bed reactor using heavy gas oil derived from Athabasca bitumen. Detailed characterization of these catalysts is given in Part I of this paper. Addition of B and P caused the formation of extremely strong acid sites on the catalyst and enhanced its HDN activity. The total (TN), basic (BN) and non-basic nitrogen (NBN) conversions increased from 61.9 to 78.0 wt.%, from 78.9 to 93.0 wt.% and from 52.8 to 70.0 wt.%, respectively, with the increase in B concentration from 0 to 1.7 wt.% to NiMo/Al₂O₃ catalyst. Similarly, TN, BN and NBN conversions increased from 61.9 to 78.4 wt.%, from 78.9 to 91.0 wt.%, and from 52.8 to 71.6 wt.% with the addition of 2.7 wt.% P. Though the addition of B and P to NiMo/Al₂O₃ catalyst did not show any significant effect on S conversion, the HDN and HDS activities of the catalyst containing 1.7 wt.% B and the one containing 2.7 wt.% P are comparable to those of a commercial catalyst. The activity over extended period indicated that catalysts L and K were more stable (lower deactivation rate) in terms of nitrogen removal activity than catalyst B (reference catalyst). On the other hand, the stability for sulfur removal was comparable with catalyst B. Selected catalysts after use were characterized using BET surface area, TPR, TPD and SEM techniques which were correlated further with their activities.     

新型介孔分子筛加氢裂化催化剂的研制

研究了一种最大量生产中间馏分油的新型介孔分子筛加氢裂化催化剂,200 mL一段串联加氢装置评价结果表明,在控制原料＞350 ℃馏分油75%的高转化率条件下,C_⁺⁵液收98.6%,加氢裂化生成油中最大量柴油馏分收率为67.36%,中油选择性79.2%,能满足工业装置最大量生产中间馏分油的需要。重石脑油芳潜收率为41.16%,尾油BMCI值5.9,是理想的重整原料和蒸汽裂解制乙烯原料。     

Hydrotreating of gas oil on SBA-15 supported NiMo catalysts

The siliceous and the metal substituted (B or Al)-SBA-15 molecular sieves were used as a support for NiMo hydrotreating catalysts (12 wt.% Mo and 2.4 wt.% Ni). The supports were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy and N₂ adsorption–desorption isotherms. The SBA-15 supported NiMo catalysts in oxide state were characterized by BET surface area analysis and XRD. The sulfided NiMo/SBA-15 catalysts were examined by DRIFT of CO adsorption and TPD of NH₃. The HDN and HDS activities with bitumen derived light gas oil at industrial conditions showed that Al substituted SBA-15 (Al-SBA-15) is the best among the supports studied for NiMo catalyst. A series of NiMo catalysts containing 7–22 wt.% Mo with Ni/Mo weight ratio of 0.2 was prepared using Al-SBA-15 support and characterized by BET surface area analysis, XRD and temperature programmed reduction and DRIFT spectroscopy of adsorbed CO. The DRIFT spectra of adsorbed CO showed the presence of both unpromoted and Ni promoted MoS₂ sites in all the catalysts, and maximum “NiMoS” sites concentration with 17 wt.% of Mo loading. The HDN and HDS activities of NiMo/Al-SBA-15 catalysts were studied using light gas oil at temperature, pressure and WHSV of 370 °C, 1300 psig and 4.5 h⁻¹, respectively. The NiMo/Al-SBA-15 catalyst with 17 wt.% Mo and 3.4 wt.% of Ni is found to be the best catalyst. The HDN and HDS activities of this catalyst are comparable with the conventional Al₂O₃ supported NiMo catalyst in real feed at industrial conditions.     

Deep HDS over NiMo/Zr-SBA-15 catalysts with varying MoO3 loading

In the present work, with the aim of searching for new, highly effective catalysts for deep HDS, a series of NiMo catalysts with different MoO₃ loadings (6–30 wt.%) was prepared using SBA-15 material covered with ZrO₂-monolayer as a support. Prepared catalysts were characterized by N₂ physisorption, small- and wide-angle XRD, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, temperature-programmed reduction, SEM-EDX and HRTEM, and their catalytic activity was evaluated in the 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene hydrodesulfurization (HDS). It was observed that ZrO₂ incorporation on the SBA-15 surface improves the dispersion of the Ni-promoted oxidic and sulfided Mo species, which were found to be highly dispersed, up to 18 wt.% of MoO₃ loading. Further increase in metal charge resulted in the formation of MoO₃ crystalline phase and an increase in the stacking degree of the MoS₂ particles. All NiMo catalysts supported on ZrO₂-modified SBA-15 material showed high activity in HDS of 4,6-DMDBT. The best catalyst having 18 wt.% MoO₃ and 4.5 wt.% NiO was almost twice more active than the reference NiMo/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst. High activity of NiMo/Zr-SBA-15 catalysts and its evolution with metal loading was related to the morphological characteristics of the MoS₂ active phase determined by HRTEM.     

Effect of phosphorus addition on the hydrotreating activity of NiMo/Al2O3 carbide catalyst

A series of phosphorus promoted γ-Al₂O₃ supported NiMo carbide catalysts with 0–4.5 wt.% P, 13 wt.% Mo and 2.5 wt.% Ni were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, pulsed CO chemisorption, BET surface area measurement, X-ray diffraction, near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure, DRIFT spectroscopy of CO adsorption and H₂ temperature programmed reduction. X-ray diffraction patterns and CO uptake showed the P addition to NiMo/γ-Al₂O₃ carbide, increased the dispersion of β-Mo₂C particles. DRIFT spectra of adsorbed CO revealed that P addition to NiMo/γ-Al₂O₃ carbide catalyst not only increases the dispersion of Ni-Mo carbide phase, but also changes the nature of surface active sites. The hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) and hydrodesulfurization (HDS) activities of these P promoted NiMo/γ-Al₂O₃ carbide catalysts were performed in trickle bed reactor using light gas oil (LGO) derived from Athabasca bitumen and model feed containing quinoline and dibenzothiophene at industrial conditions. The P added NiMo/γ-Al₂O₃ carbide catalysts showed enhanced HDN activity compared to the NiMo/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts with both the feed stocks. The P had almost no influence on the HDS activity of NiMo/γ-Al₂O₃ carbide with LGO and dibenzothiophene. P addition to NiMo/γ-Al₂O₃ carbide accelerated CN bond breaking and thus increased the HDN activity.     

Effects of boron in Co---Mo/B---Al2O3 hydrotreatment catalysts

Several mild hydrocracking 3 wt.-% Co-10 wt.-% Mo/B---Al₂O₃ catalysts have been prepared by adding H₃BO₃ into a boehmite dough during kneading + extrusion, drying and calcination prior to impregnation. HDS, HDN and cracking were monitored in the hydrotreatment of a VGO feedstock and the optimum B content was estimated around 3 wt.-%. The effects of boron on these catalysts will be discussed here with a particular focus on the effect of boron during impregnation. Using a simple hydrothermal treatment method by soxhlet, B can be extracted, with hot water, from catalysts and from supports. Simultaneously, on supports calcined at 600°C, the formation of a boehmite phase was detected after extraction.     

Hydropyrolysis of Alberta coal and petroleum residue using calcium oxide catalyst and toluene additive

Hydropyrolysis of a mixture of Alberta coal and Athabasca bitumen was carried out in a batch reactor using calcium oxide as an alternate catalyst and the results were compared with those of widely used iron oxide and well-known NiMo/Al₂O₃ catalysts. Most of the reactions were done at temperatures of 500–540°C, residence time of 1 min and hydrogen pressure of 3.4 MPa. Maximum distillable oil (below 523°C) yield of 55 wt% and pitch conversion of 62 wt% were obtained in the presence of CaO or Fe₂O₃ and these values were higher than those without catalyst, although NiMo/Al₂O₃ catalyst gave much higher oil yield and pitch conversion. Catalyst concentration (above 2 wt%) has no consequence upon the distribution of various product fractions.

In another study, addition of 15% toluene to the feed in the absence of catalyst led to higher distillable oil yield (68 wt%) and pitch conversion (72 wt%) in the hydroconversion of coal and bitumen mixture. Increase in toluene concentration from 15 to 50 wt% had no positive effect on the product yields.     

Hydrogenation of naphthalene on NiMo- Ni- and Ru/Al2O3 catalysts: Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetic modelling

The importance of the hydrodearomatisation (HDA) is increasing together with tightening legislation of fuel quality and exhaust emissions. The present study focuses on hydrogenation (HYD) kinetics of the model aromatic compound naphthalene, found in typical diesel fraction, in n-hexadecane over a NiMo (nickel molybdenum), Ni (nickel) and Ru (ruthenium) supported on trilobe alumina (Al₂O₃) catalysts. Kinetic reaction expressions based on the mechanistic Langmuir–Hinshelwood (L–H) model were derived and tested by regressing the experimental data that translated the effect of both naphthalene and hydrogen concentration at a constant temperature (523.15 and 573.15 K over the NiMo catalyst and at 373.15 K over the Ni and Ru/Al₂O₃ catalysts) on the initial reaction rate. The L–H equation, giving an adequate fit to the experimental data with physically meaningful parameters, suggested a competitive adsorption between hydrogen and naphthalene over the presulphided NiMo catalyst and a non-competitive adsorption between these two reactants over the prereduced Ni and Ru/Al₂O₃ catalysts. In addition, the adsorption constant values indicated that the prereduced Ru catalyst was a much more active catalyst towards naphthalene HYD than the prereduced Ni/Al₂O₃ or the presulphided NiMo/Al₂O₃ catalyst.     

NiMo/HY催化剂上四氢萘加氢裂化反应网络与热力学平衡分析

采用固定床反应器对四氢萘在NiMo/HY工业催化剂上的加氢裂化反应过程进行了研究,考察了反应温度对产物分布的影响,提出了四氢萘加氢裂化反应网络。该网络包含加氢、异构、脱氢、开环、脱烷基等12个反应,通过热力学计算,得到了这些反应的平衡常数,并据此求得各类产物的平衡收率及其随温度、压力和氢气/四氢萘（摩尔比）的变化规律。由热力学平衡分析得到的产物收率随反应条件的变化规律与实验结果较为吻合,表明本文构建的反应网络可以较好地描述NiMo/HY催化剂上的四氢萘加氢裂化反应体系。     

Catalytic coprocessing of LDPE with coal and petroleum resid using different catalysts

Catalytic coprocessing of low density polyethylene (LDPE) with coal and heavy petroleum resid was investigated using four different catalysts that included both hydrotreating and hydrocracking catalysts. Reaction systems that were evaluated included LDPE alone; LDPE with coal; and LDPE, coal, and resid. The catalysts used were NiMo/Al₂O₃, a hydrotreating catalyst with some hydrocracking activity, and the hydrocracking catalysts Zeolyst 753, NiMo/zeolite, and HZSM-5. These catalysts were reacted individually or in combinations of 10 wt.% of each hydrocracking catalyst in NiMo/Al₂O₃. The catalytic reactions were performed at two temperatures, 400 and 430°C, using 1 wt.% of each catalyst or a combination of catalysts on a total feed basis. The effects of the different catalysts on the reaction products were measured in terms of solvent fractionation and total boiling point distribution. Reactions at the higher reaction temperature of 430°C resulted in substantially higher conversion and production of lighter products than the reactions at 400°C. The LDPE reaction system was sensitive to the catalyst type, and yielded increased conversion and lighter products when Zeolyst 753 and NiMo/zeolite were used. By contrast, the conversion and product slate obtained from the LDPE and coal systems were low and showed no effect due to the different types of catalyst. Introduction of resid to the LDPE/coal system increased the reactivity of the system and allowed the catalysts to have a larger effect. The hydrocracking catalysts were the most active in producing more conversion and hexane soluble material. Comparison of the effect of increasing the reaction time up to 5 h with 1 wt.% catalyst loading to the effect of increasing the catalyst loading from 1 wt.% to 10 wt.% for a reaction time of 1 h showed that increased reaction time was much more effective than catalyst loading in converting the solid LDPE to liquid reaction products.     

煤基石脑油半再生催化重整制芳烃的工艺

采用工业铂铼双金属重整催化剂Pt-Re/γ-Al₂O₃开展了煤基石脑油半再生固定床催化重整单因素实验,并采用响应面法对工艺参数进行了优化与分析,最后对优化工艺条件下实验产物进行了分析。结果表明：加权平均入口温度（WAIT）、压力（P）、液时空速（LHSV）等操作条件对煤基石脑油芳烃型半再生重整产品质量、芳烃收率和C₅₊液体收率有很大的影响。煤基石脑油重整合适工艺参数区间：WAIT（500~520℃）、P（1.2~1.6MPa）和LHSV（2.0~3.0h^-1）;最佳工艺条件：WAIT为516℃,P为1.4MPa,LHSV为2.3h^-1。优化工艺条件下芳烃收率达到了79.81%,响应面实验操作条件区间内,WAIT、P和LHSV对芳烃收率影响大小顺序为：P > LHSV > WAIT。相比于石油基石脑油重整,煤基石脑油重整不仅纯氢产率和氢气纯度更高,还可获得更高的苯-甲苯-二甲苯（BTX）产率,其中苯收率：甲苯收率：二甲苯收率近似为1：3：2。     

Feedstock recycling of agriculture plastic film wastes by catalytic cracking

Feedstock recycling by catalytic cracking of a real plastic film waste from Almeria greenhouses (Spain) towards valuable hydrocarbon mixtures has been studied over several acid catalysts. The plastic film waste was mostly made up of ambient degraded low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer, the vinyl acetate content being around 4 wt.%. Nanocrystalline HZSM-5 zeolite (crystal size 60 nm) was the only catalyst capable of degrading completely the refuse at 420 °C despite using a very small amount of catalyst (plastic/catalyst mass ratio of 50). However, mesoporous catalysts (Al-SBA-15 and Al-MCM-41), unlike it occurred with virgin LDPE, showed fairly close conversions to that of thermal cracking. Nanocrystalline HZSM-5 zeolite led to 60 wt.% selectivity towards C₁---C₅ hydrocarbons, mostly valuable C₃---C₅ olefins, what would improve the profitability of a future industrial recycling process. The remarkable performance of nanocrystalline HZSM-5 zeolite was ascribed to its high content of strong external acid sites due to its nanometer dimension, which are very active for the cracking of bulky macromolecules. Hence, nanocrystalline HZSM-5 can be regarded as a promising catalyst for a feasible feedstock recycling process by catalytic cracking.     

Zr改性Y分子筛中油型加氢裂化催化剂设计制备

采用等体积浸渍法对Y分子筛进行了Zr修饰改性,系统考察了不同用量Zr对改性Y分子筛的结构、催化剂的理化性质和加氢裂化反应性能的影响规律。通过XRD、NH₃-TPD、H₂-TPR和TEM等方法对改性分子筛和催化剂进行表征分析。结果表明：Zr改性降低了Y分子筛的酸量,随着改性Zr用量的增加,这种变化趋势不断增大。同时,Zr改性有效地削弱了分子筛催化剂中金属活性组分与载体间的作用,提高了W物种在催化剂表面的分散程度。加氢裂化反应结果表明：与Y分子筛催化剂相比,Zr改性Y分子筛催化剂的减压馏分油(VGO)转化率降低,中间馏分油选择性提高约20%,随着改性Zr用量的增加,VGO的转化率不断降低,中间馏分油选择性略有增加。     

Methanol decomposition to synthesis gas at low temperature over palladium supported on ceria–zirconia solid solutions

The Ce_xZr_1−xO₂ solid solution was used as a support of a palladium catalyst for methanol decomposition to synthesis gas at low temperature. All Pd-containing catalysts tested in this study showed high selectivity to synthesis gas (over 96%). The Pd supported on the composite oxide with a Ce/Zr molar ratio of 4/1 exhibited the highest activity. Pd/Ce_0.8Zr_0.2O₂ (17 wt.%) (cop) (prepared by coprecipitation method) showed a conversion of 51.2% for the methanol decomposition at 473 K, which was higher than those over 17 wt.% Pd/CeO₂ (cop) (40.7%) and 17 wt.% Pd/ZrO₂ (cop) (24.3%) at 473 K. The 17 wt.% Pd/Ce_0.8Zr_0.2O₂ (cop) catalyst showed a higher BET surface area and smaller Pd particles than those of 17 wt.% Pd/CeO₂ (cop). Moreover, a more active Pd^σ+ state could be maintained by Zr⁴⁺ ion modification due to promotion of the oxygen mobility and enhancement of the reductibility and increase in the acid sites of the CeO₂ support. The 17 wt.% Pd/Ce_0.8Zr_0.2O₂ (cop) catalyst showed a much higher conversion (51.2%) than that over 17 wt.% Pd/Ce_0.8Zr_0.2O₂ (imp) (prepared by impregnation method) (17.2%) at 473 K. This is due to the 17 wt.% Pd/Ce_0.8Zr_0.2O₂ (cop) possessing many small Pd particles. The 17 wt.% Pd/Ce_0.8Zr_0.2O₂ (cop) catalyst showed an initial conversion of 51.2% at 473 K but the conversion decreased to 43.1% after 24 h on stream. This deactivation was attributed to carbonaceous deposit on the catalyst surface. The amounts of coke on the 17 wt.% Pd/Ce_0.8Zr_0.2O₂ (cop) catalyst were 0.9 wt.% after 24 h on stream at 473 K and 2.1 wt.% after 1 h on stream at 523 K.     

多级孔分子筛对四氢萘加氢生产轻质芳烃的影响

以多级孔Y分子筛为酸性组分,四硫代钼酸铵为金属前驱物,采用孔饱和浸渍法制备预硫化型催化剂,采用XRD、BET、TEM、NH3-TPD和Py-IR等分析方法表征分子筛结构性质。以四氢萘为模型化合物,在高压加氢微反装置上考察多级孔Y分子筛对四氢萘选择性加氢裂化性能的影响。结果表明,与参比分子筛相比,介孔比例高、介孔孔径尺寸适宜、介孔集中度高和酸性适中的多级孔Y型分子筛能够强化四氢萘转化及提高C_6~C_(10)和C_6~C_8单环芳烃收率;介孔孔径尺寸过大或介孔集中度低会提高重产物收率。实验条件下,C_6~C_(10)和C_6~C_8单环芳烃收率分别可达41.5%和24.0%。     

Vapor phase nitration of benzene over solid acid catalysts IV. Nitration with nitric acid (3); supported sulfuric acid catalyst with co-feeding of a trace amount of sulfuric acid

In the vapor phase nitration of benzene with diluted nitric acid, we have succeeded in keeping a high nitration activity of the supported sulfuric acid catalyst for more than 2 months by co-feeding a trace amount of sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄/HNO₃ = 1/5000 (wt. ratio)). The results after 60 days on-stream over 10 wt.%–H₂SO₄/SiO₂ catalyst are as follows: yield of nitrobenzene (NB), 93% based on HNO₃; selectivity of NB, 97% based on HNO₃; productivity of NB (STY), 0.76 kg/kg cat h. These performances were demonstrated in bench scale experiments using molded silica or quartz supports. Finally, nitration reactions of toluene and chlorobenzene were conducted and compared with each other over several solid acid catalysts developed by us.     

Hydrogen as a remedy for the detrimental effect of aromatic and cyclic compounds on the HC-SCR over Ag/alumina

The effect of hydrogen on the selective catalytic reduction of NO_x with n-octane, methylcyclohexane and toluene over a 2 wt.% Ag/Al₂O₃ was investigated. Diesel fuels contain, in addition to straight hydrocarbons, varying amounts of cyclic and aromatic compounds, which have a detrimental effect on the Ag/Al₂O₃ catalyst activity. The results showed that the NO to N₂ conversion was significantly promoted, independent of the nature (straight, cyclic or aromatic) of the hydrocarbon, in the presence of 1 vol.% H₂. The role of hydrogen is connected to a faster oxidation of the hydrocarbons and to enhanced formation of amines, which react with activated NO to form N₂.     

Hydroisomerization and hydrocracking of long chain n-alkanes on Pt/amorphous SiO2–Al2O3 catalyst

The hydroisomerization and hydrocracking of n-hexadecane, n-octacosane and n-hexatriacontane on a 0.3% platinum/amorphous silica–alumina (MSA/E) catalyst was investigated in a stirred microautoclave at 345, 360 and 380°C and between 2 and 13.1 MPa hydrogen pressure. For each n-paraffin, the reaction pathway and the kinetic parameters were determined. The results were used to elucidate the effect of chain length and operating conditions on isomerization and cracking selectivity. The conversion of the n-paraffins lead to the formation of a mixture of the respective isomers, as the main product, together with cracking products. At every temperature, the iso-alkane/n-alkane ratio of cracking products increased considerably with increasing conversion degree. At the same conversion level, higher reaction temperatures lead to cracking products characterized by a lower iso-alkane/n-alkane ratio. The conversion rate constants showed a considerable increase between n-C₁₆ and n-C₂₈, whereas a slight decrease between n-C₂₈ and n-C₃₆ was observed. The hydroisomerization selectivities showed a decrease as a function of chain length and with increasing conversion levels. The increase in reaction temperature leads to a small decrease in the isomerization selectivities only at low-medium conversion degrees and at the highest temperature investigated, while the effect of this parameter on the maximum yields achievable in iso-C16, iso-C28 and iso-C36 was negligible. The results indicate that the conversion of the n-paraffins follows a first-order kinetic in hydrocarbon while the order in hydrogen pressure was −1.1 ± 0.21 for n-C₁₆ and −0.66 ± 0.15 for n-C₂₈. Furthermore, an increase in hydroisomerization selectivity at higher hydrogen pressure for n-C₂₈ conversion was observed.     

Effect of vacuum gas oil hydrotreating reactor on multiple reactors and hydrogen network

The inlet temperature of the Vacuum Gas Oil (VGO) hydrotreating reactor of a refinery is analyzed with the integration of multiple series reactors and hydrogen network considered. The effect of the inlet temperature (T₁) on hydrogen sinks/sources and the product output is analyzed systematically based on the simulation of the series reactors, including VGO hydrotreating reactor, hydrocracking reactor, fluid catalytic cracking reactor and visbreaking reactor. The general relation between the Hydrogen Utility Adjustment (HUA) and multiple pairs of varying sinks and sources is deduced, and correlations between varying streams and T₁ are linearly fitted. Based on this, the quantitative equation between HUA and T₁ is derived, and corresponding diagram is constructed. The T₁ corresponding the minimum hydrogen consumption is identified to be 345℃.     

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.