Model planar alumina catalyst preparation and aging under hydrotreating conditions

Abstract

Pore blockage and metal deposition on low surface area porous alumina films was monitored at several positions along a hydrotreater which processed heavy Arabian atmospheric residuum. Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive Analytical X-ray techniques were used to study the alumina film's surface morphology and degree of contamination after the aging process. After a period of two months in the hydrotreater, pore blockage at the reactor entrance was observed to occur within pores of ca. 1000A˚diameter. Pores of the same size located further down the bed show no evidence of blockage, however metallic and non-metallic contaminants are still present. The porous alumina films from the second bed of the hydrotreater show no trace of any contaminants. In fact, the porous surface looks remarkably clean as compared with the inlet surface. Porous anodic alumina films are demonstrated to be suitable probes for monitoring catalyst deactivation.