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Effect of pore size on bitumen hydrocracking over Al 2 O 3 ‐AlPO 4 supported Ni‐Mo catalysts
Author(s) -
Smith Kevin J.,
Lewkowicz Leszek,
Oballa Mike C.,
Krzywicki Andrzej
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
the canadian journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1939-019X
pISSN - 0008-4034
DOI - 10.1002/cjce.5450720413
Subject(s) - catalysis , coke , materials science , oxide , asphalt , cracking , aluminium , sulfidation , chemical engineering , aluminum oxide , metallurgy , chemistry , composite material , organic chemistry , engineering
A study of co‐precipitated aluminum oxide‐aluminum phosphate (AAP) materials as supports of Ni‐Mo heavy oil upgrading catalysts has been completed. Results of both short duration (8 h) and longer duration (up to 200 h) experiments at conditions relevant to the commercial H‐Oil process are reported and compared with a commercial NiMo/Al 2 O 3 catalyst. The initial activity of the Ni‐Mo/AAP catalysts correlates with the catalyst average pore diameter which is determined by the P content of the AAP support. An optimum pore diameter of about 20 run exists for HDM whereas for HDS a pore diameter < 10 nm is desirable. After 100 h operation the HDM conversion of the best Ni‐Mo/AAP catalyst was approximately 10 percentage points greater than for the commercial catalyst. The HDS and CCR conversions were comparable over the two catalysts. The difference in performance between the catalysts is attributed primarily to the smaller pore size of the Al 2 O 3 support compared to the AAP support. The amount of coke deposited on the Ni‐Mo/AAP catalyst was less than that on the commercial catalyst, presumably due to differences in pitch conversion levels.