HYDROCATALYTIC PROCESSING OF FUEL OILS WITH THE USE OF NANOCATALYSTS BASED ON NICKEL AND ZINC

Abstract

The article presents the results of a study of hydrocatalytic processing of two fuel oils in the presence of nanocatalytic systems in the form of oil-soluble precursors based on nickel and zinc. The process was carried out on a pilot plant for hydroprocessing with a flow reactor at a temperature of 440 ℃, a hydrogen pressure of 6 MPa, a feed space velocity of 1.0 s-1, and a hydrogen circulation ratio of 1000 nl/l. The catalyst efficiency was evaluated by changes in the material balance, in hydrogenate desulfurization degree, in 450+ °C fraction conversion degree, and by changes in density and hydrogenate refractive index. An analysis of material balances showed that the addition of nanocatalyst precursors increases the 180–350 °C fraction yield, reduces the coke yield on the fixed layer, which is a layer of ceramic balls, and reduces the 450+ °C residual fraction yield. The gas and gasoline fraction yield is slightly reduced. The analysis of hydrogenates showed a decrease in sulfur content, a decrease in density and refractive index in hydrogenates obtained during the hydroprocessing of raw materials with the addition of nanocatalyst precursors. The optimal concentrations of catalysts were experimentally determined; for nickel, the concentration is 0.1 wt %, and for zinc is 0.15 wt %. A comparison of two methods for the synthesis of nanoscale catalytic systems in raw materials was made: directly in the reaction zone in situ and outside the reaction zone ex situ. The method for synthesizing nanoscale catalytic systems outside the reaction zone makes it possible to further increase the feedstock conversion, the hydrogenate desulfurization degree, and the hydrogenate quality.