Selective Catalytic Steam Cracking of anthracene using mesoporous Al2O3 supported Ni-based catalysts doped with Na, Ca or K

• Ni/Al2O3 catalysts doped with Na, Ca and K were synthesised.
• The doped catalysts were characterised.
• Their activity was investigated in anthracene Selective Catalytic Steam Cracking.
• The extent of anthracene SCSC depends on the nickel crystal size.
• High conversions values were detrimental to the selectivity to liquid products.

Selective Catalytic Steam Cracking (SCSC) is an interesting alternative for heavy oil upgrading which aims to use steam as source of hydrogen to crack the feedstock at relatively milder conditions (temperatures in the range of 400–500 °C) than steam reforming. This targets the formation of lighter liquid products over gas and coke. In this work, anthracene was used as model compound representing polyaromatic structures present in high molecular weight asphaltenes. The SCSC of anthracene was studied in the temperature range of 400–500 °C using a nickel based catalyst doped with Na, Ca or K and supported onto mesoporous Al2O3 in a micro-bomb reactor. The extent of anthracene SCSC depends on the nickel crystal size. However, high conversions values are detrimental to the selectivity to liquid products, since most of the intermediate products are further converted to the gas phase.

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