Different alumina precursors in the preparation of supports for HDT and HDC of Maya crude oil

• Published in: Catalysis today 2018-05, Vol.305, p.2-12
• Main Authors: Rayo, Patricia, Rodríguez-Hernández, Andrea, Torres-Mancera, Pablo, Muñoz, José Antonio D., Ancheyta, Jorge, García de León, Roberto
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alumina; Boehmite; Hydrocracking crude oil; Hydrodesulfurization; NiMo catalysts
• ISSN: 0920-5861; 1873-4308
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cattod.2017.12.034

[Display omitted] •Boehmite synthesis by hydrothermal route with three different precursor aluminum salts.•Different alumina precursor affects catalyst performance in hydrotreatment of Maya crude oil.•Good balance among catalytic properties obtained with aluminum chloride.•Poor active phase dispersion and high acidity by using aluminum sulfate.•Intermediate active phase dispersion and stacking and low acidity with aluminum nitrate. Three different aluminum salts were used in the hydrothermal synthesis of boehmite. The salts employed were sulfate, chloride and nitrate. The prepared boehmites were calcined to obtain γ-Al2O3, then these supports were used to prepare NiMo/γ-Al2O3 catalysts and their activity was measured in the hydrotreating of Maya crude oil. The results showed that various key properties related to hydrotreating capability can be modified by using different precursor salts in the hydrothermal synthesis route of Al2O3 support. In this sense, in addition to pore diameter, the acidity of the alumina support plays an important role. To assess the acidity of each catalyst, additional reaction tests of the hydrocracking of cumene in a microreactor were performed. The catalysts were characterized by N2 physisorption, XRD, FT-IR, SEM, HRTEM, and TPR.