Effect of Ti loading on the HDS and HDN activity of KLGO on NiMo/TiSBA-15 catalysts

TiSBA-15 with high surface area and large pore diameter with variable Si/Ti molar ratios of 20, 40, and 80 were synthesized and used as supports for NiMo catalysts. TiSBA-15 supports and NiMo/TiSBA-15 catalysts were extensively characterized by using XRD, N2 adsorption analysis, FT-IR, Py-FTIR, Raman, TPR, SEM and TEM techniques. Results from XRD and IR measurements confirm the hexagonally ordered mesoporous structure and incorporation of Ti into the framework of SBA-15 support, respectively. TPR analysis confirmed that Ti incorporation resulted in better dispersion and more homogeneous distribution of octahedral Ni and Mo species on the support compared to NiMo/SBA-15. Hydrotreating experiments were conducted using coker light gas oil (KLGO) under industrial conditions of temperature, pressure, LHSV, and gas to oil ratio of 330–370 °C, 8.8 MPa, 2 h−1, and 600 mL/mL, respectively. NiMo/TiSBA-15 catalysts showed very high catalytic activities of hydrodesulfurization and hydrodenitrogenation of KLGO than the NiMo catalysts prepared by using SBA-15 and γ-Al2O3 as support.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► High pore diameter and acidity plays vital role in the hydrotreating.
► Ti helps in improving the metal support interaction by increasing functional hydroxyl groups.
► Ti incorporation leads to better and homogeneous distribution of Ni and Mo species.