Novel (Co-,Ni)-p-tert-Butylcalix[4]arenes as Dispersed Catalysts for Heavy Oil Upgrading: Synthesis, Characterization, and Performance Evaluation

Abstract

This study investigates the promotional effects of a potentially new class of oil-soluble dispersed catalyst precursors for upgrading of vacuum gas oil (VGO), that is metal-based p-tert-butylcalix[4]arenes (TBC[4]s). Co- and Ni-TBC[4] were synthesized, and the metal–ligand complexation was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray, inductively coupled plasma, X-ray diffraction, UV–vis, Fourier transform infrared, and 1H NMR. The thermogravimetric and calorimetric behaviors of the synthesized complexes, which are key properties of dispersed hydrocracking catalysts, were also studied. The differential scanning calorimetry profile of Ni-TBC[4] and Co-TBC[4] showed that the organometallic structure has lower thermal stability compared with that of the parent TBC[4]. This apparent drawback can be positively exploited by employing TBC[4] as a carrier of the metal, where the active sites are formed in situ by the destruction of the organometallic complex on reaching the desired reaction c...