In-situ synthesis of Ni2P/Al2O3 catalyst with liquid-phase phosphidation for enhancing hydrogenation and desulfurization performance in C9 petroleum resin

Abstract

The hydrogenation of unsaturated bonds and elimination of sulfur impurities in C9 petroleum resin (C9PR) are crucial for improving its quality and performance. In this study, we prepared a nanoflower-like Ni2P/Al2O3 catalyst using an in-situ synthesis combined with liquid-phase phosphidation strategy and applied for the production of value-added hydrogenated C9PR. In-situ synthesis of Ni-Al hydrotalcite anchors and disperses Ni nanoparticles, while liquid-phase phosphidation introduces high-content Niδ+ and Pδ− active sites and prevents the formation of inactive AlPO4, synergistically enhancing both hydrogenation and desulfurization activities. The synthesized Ni2P/Al2O3 catalyst achieves a 99.6 % hydrogenation degree and reduces sulfur content from 137 ppm to 0 ppm, much better than the catalysts prepared by conventional impregnation and metal phosphate reduction methods. These results give valuable insights for designing efficient catalysts and advancing single-step hydrorefining processes to generate high-quality, value-added hydrogenated petroleum resins.