Ni catalysts supported on activated carbon from petcoke and their activity for toluene hydrogenation

Abstract

Petroleum coke (petcoke) is an abundant resource that can potentially be converted to catalyst support materials through activation to increase the surface area and reduce the sulphur content. In this work, potassium hydroxide (KOH) catalysed activation was employed with petcoke to produce activated carbons, which were characterised with nitrogen physisorption, X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and temperature‐programmed reduction. With activation temperatures between 500 and 800°C, the surface area increased from 4 m2/g to between 200 and 2400 m2/g while the sulphur content was reduced from 6.6 wt% to between 1 and 0.2 wt%. Nickel catalysts (nominally 5 wt%) were prepared on the activated carbon supports using wet impregnation. The activities of these catalysts were measured for toluene hydrogenation in a plug‐flow reactor with a toluene liquid hourly space velocity of 2.4/h, a pressure of 1.38 MPa, and a H2/toluene mole ratio of 90. The catalytic activity varied between zero for nickel supported on petcoke to 98% conversion, with essentially 100% to methylcyclohexane for nickel supported on carbon activated at 750°C. Thus, activated carbon from petcoke was a suitable support for Ni‐based catalysts when used for toluene hydrogenation as a model reaction. © 2011 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering

Impacts of vanadium and coke deposits on the CO2 gasification of nickel catalysts supported on activated carbon from petroleum coke

“…This catalyst will be referred to as Ni/AC. A previous study has shown that a Ni catalyst prepared by this method had comparable performance to a Ni catalyst supported on a commercial activated carbon (Darco ® G-60) for the hydrogenation of toluene [18]. Deactivated catalysts were prepared by impregnating with vanadium to simulate hydrodemetallization (HDM) and by exposure to ethylene to induce coking.…”

“…The activated carbon was prepared by chemical activation as described previously [18]. Briefly, raw delayed petroleum coke (petcoke, Suncor Energy Inc., Calgary, AB, Canada) was ball milled and sieved to 44-149 m and then mixed with potassium hydroxide (KOH, 85%, Alfa Aesar) in a dry mass ratio of 3:1 (KOH: petcoke).…”

Characterization, gasification, activation, and potential uses for the millions of tonnes of petroleum coke produced in Canada each year

“…In the first set of catalysts, the activated petcoke is a support for the active metal (in this case, Ni) . Chemical activation with potassium hydroxide at various temperatures was used to prepare the activated carbon from delayed coke.…”

“…In the first set of catalysts, the activated petcoke is a support for the active metal (in this case, Ni). [24] Chemical activation with potassium hydroxide at various temperatures was used to prepare the activated carbon from delayed coke. Wet impregnation was used to add Ni to the supports and the catalysts were tested in a plug flow reactor at 1.38 MPa, 563 K, and a liquid hourly space velocity of 2.4/h using toluene hydrogenation as a model reaction.…”

“…A recent study has shown that fuel cells can be operated directly on pure carbon feeds Table 3. Properties of activated carbon-based catalysts [24] Catalyst Surface area N 2 , BET (m 2 /g)…”