Hydrotreating of Maya Crude Oil: I. Effect of Support Composition and Its Pore-diameter on Asphaltene Conversion

Abstract

A systematic study for a concept governing support effect in heavy oil hydrotreating (HDT) catalysts is performed. Different Al₂O₃ and its mixed oxides supports were prepared and CoMo supported catalysts were tested for Maya heavy crude oil hydrotreating. Fresh and spent catalysts are characterized with N₂ adsorption-desorption, element analysis, and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersion analysis by x-ray (SEM-EDAX), which confirms that coke and metals deposition on the surface of catalyst is most probably near the pore mouth. It is also demonstrated from these results that asphaltene conversion depends on the pore diameter of the catalyst, while other hydrotreating conversions (hydrodesulfurization (HDS), hydrodenitogenation (HDN), and in some extent hydrodemetallization (HDM)) are more likely affected by the nature of active metal distribution. The evaluation of alumina mixed oxide (TiO₂, ZrO₂, B₂O₃, and MgO) supported catalysts indicates that supports with basic nature have better stability than the acid ones.