Novel mesoporous aluminosilicate supported palladium-rhodium catalysts for diesel upgrading : II. Catalytic activity and improvement of industrial diesel feedstocks

Bimetallic PdRh catalysts (molar ratio Pd/Rh = 1 and 2) were prepared by impregnation of a mesoporous aluminosilicate (molar ratio Si/Al = 10 and 20). These materials are destined to be used in industrial processes aiming to improve diesel quality by hydrogenation and ring-opening of aromatic components. The four catalysts were examined for their activity in hydrogenation of naphthalene and tetralin model feedstocks, at 6 MPa, including in the presence of sulfur containing compounds. The capacity of one of these catalysts to improve the quality of hydrogenated industrial light cycle oil containing ≤50 wt ppm of sulfur was evaluated in a pilot plant. In these industrial conditions, the catalyst has a higher catalytic activity at lower temperature than a reference state of-the-art catalyst, giving a seven-point improvement of the cetane number at 280–300 °C and with formation of less than 10% of non-selective cracking products.

Novel PdRh bimetallic catalysts supported on mesoporous aluminosilicates and having a range of Pd/Rh and Si/Al molar ratios are screened for their activity in hydrogenation of naphthalene and tetralin model feedstocks, at 6 MPa. The most active catalyst is used for the upgrading of light cycle oil in an industrial pilot plant, when diesel of cetane index 46 is obtained. Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide