Performance study of Ni, Co, and Mo catalysts supported on γ ‐Al ₂ O ₃ and HZSM5 in HDS reactions of mixed naphtha

Abstract

catalysts were synthesized by the wetness impregnation technique. Field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and nitrogen physisorption methods were used for characterizing the prepared catalysts. The activity of the synthesized catalysts was studied by passing the mixed naphtha and H 2 over a fixed bed reactor with sulfiding process prior to HDS reactions at ambient pressure, 285 C, LHSV of 5.8 h À1 , and H 2 /HC volumetric ratio of 94. Ni, Co, and Mo with mass percent of 3.5 wt% were loaded on laboratorysynthesized γ-Al 2 O 3 and purchased HZSM5 supports. For promoted Ni Mo/ γ-Al 2 O 3 catalyst, 3.5 wt% Ni and 17 wt% Mo were impregnated on laboratory synthesized γ-alumina support, similar to the commercial industrial catalyst. Ultimately, the HDS reactions over the synthesized Ni Mo/γ-Al 2 O 3 decreased the total sulfur content of mixed naphtha from 430 to 25 ppm wt, as a synthesized catalyst with the best reactor performance and acceptable long-term stability. K E Y W O R D S hydrodesulfurization, mixed naphtha, Ni Mo/γ-Al 2 O 3 , sulfiding, total sulfur content Highlights • Ni/γ-Al 2 O 3 , Ni/HZSM5, Co/HZSM5, Mo/HZSM5, and Ni Mo/γ-Al 2 O 3 catalysts were synthesized and evaluated in HDS reactions of mixed naphtha. • The catalytic performance and characteristic for prepared catalysts were compared with a commercial industrial catalyst supplied by AXENS company. • Synthesized 3.5Ni-17Mo/γ-Al 2 O 3 showed the best catalytic performance with HDS conversion of 94.2%. • All reactor tests were performed according to the operating conditions of an AXENS licensed industrial Naphtha Hydro-Treating (NHT) unit, except process pressure, which was applied atmospheric.