Nanoparticle catalyzed hydrodesulfurization of diesel fuel in a trickle bed reactor: experimental and optimization study

Abstract

This work focuses on the preparation, simulation, and optimization of the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of dibenzothiophene (DBT) using a nanocatalyst.

Catalyst Stacking Technology as a Viable Solution to Ultralow Sulfur Diesel Production

“…However, Eijsbouts et al did a comprehensive review on the economic and technical repercussions of substituting Co and Ni promoters for other metals in hydroprocessing catalysts and discovered that most of the alternative compositions are either too expensive (especially noble metals can be various orders of magnitude more expensive), not sufficiently available to fulfill the market demand, more toxic than Co and Ni, or do not show enough activity . Another contemporary approach to produce highly active HDS catalysts relies on the use of nanoparticles or nanostructured composites as catalyst supports. − The widespread use of γ-alumina supports in the manufacturing of hydrotreating catalysts is chiefly due to its mechanical strength, high surface area, good porosity, acid/base properties, affordable price, and availability. , Nevertheless, γ-Al 2 O 3 supports show strong interactions with the metals in the active phase, which has negative effects on the catalytic activity and hampers the MoS 2 slabs’ appropriate dispersion onto the support. , The results of multiple investigations suggest that nanostructured supports, and particularly carbon nanomaterials as supports, can improve the hydrodesulfurization activity because of their weaker interactions between the supports and the catalyst particles, larger superficial area, better dispersion of the active phase, and lower coking propensity. , However, important challenges must be overcome before their industrial application in hydrodesulfurization, i.e., their lower availability, higher prices, toxicity, and reduced bulk densities (resulting in less mass of catalyst per reactor volume) are not yet justified by their activity enhancement. , …”

Mathematical modeling of the process of hydrotreating diesel fuel from organosulfur impurities

“…The degree of activity of sulfur compounds in hydrogenolysis reactions is different and decreases in the following order: mercaptans > sulfides > thiophenes > benzothiophenes > dibenzothiophenes. At the same time, the most difficultly hydrogenated compounds of the thiophene series are concentrated mainly in heavy fractions boiling above 330°C [6][7][8][9]. It is characteristic that the quality and depth of diesel fuel hydrotreatment, the cleaning process as a whole, is determined by the interaction with hydrogen of a relatively small amount of hardly hydrogenated organic sulfur impurities, while easily hydrogenated components have already undergone hydrogenolysis.…”

“…It is characteristic that the quality and depth of diesel fuel hydrotreatment, the cleaning process as a whole, is determined by the interaction with hydrogen of a relatively small amount of hardly hydrogenated organic sulfur impurities, while easily hydrogenated components have already undergone hydrogenolysis. In this situation, the assessment of the composition of the initial purified diesel fuel by hydrogenated components, which is necessary for mathematical modeling of the process, is of particular importance [6,7,10,11]. The large number of these components, their different nature and reactivity complicate adequate mathematical modeling and calculation of the reaction blocks of hydrotreatment units.…”