Effect of reaction variables on the catalytic hydrocracking of Athabasca bitumen

Abstract

The effects of catalyst particle size on the hydrocracking reactions of Athabasca bitumen were studied in the presence of CoOMoO 3/Al 2O 3 catalyst. Six different catalyst particle sizes, namely 3.2, 1.7, 1.18, 0.6, 0.3 and < 0.15 mm were employed in the hydrocracking reactions. Reducing the catalyst size resulted in a significant increase in the conversion of asphaltenes. Mass transfer of reactants to the active surface of the catalysts was found to have a negligible effect when catalyst particles of < 0.3 mm were used. The effects of sulphiding the CoOMoO 3/Al 2O 3 catalyst on the hydrocracking reactions were determined and used to conclude that sulphiding of the catalyst, by the sulphur-rich bitumen, occurred during the initial heat-up period of the reaction. The pore size distributions of CoOMoO 3/Al 2O 3 and CoOMoO 3/TiO 2SiO 2 catalysts were determined and the median pore sizes calculated to be 9 and 10 nm, respectively.