Recent Progress on Sulfated Nanozirconia as a Solid Acid Catalyst in the Hydrocracking Reaction

Serly Jolanda Sekewael,Amalia Kurnia Amin,Maisari Utami,Latifah Hauli,Remi Ayu Pratika,Karna Wijaya

doi:10.3390/catal12020191

Abstract

Zirconia has advantageous thermal stability and acid–base properties. The acidity character of ZrO2 can be enhanced through the sulfation process forming sulfated zirconia (ZrO2-SO4). An acidity test of the catalyst produced proved that the sulfate loading succeeded in increasing the acidity of ZrO2 as confirmed by the presence of characteristic absorptions of the sulfate group from the FTIR spectra of the catalyst. The ZrO2-SO4 catalyst can be further modified with transition metals, such as Platinum (Pt), Chromium (Cr), and Nickel (Ni) to increase catalytic activity and catalyst stability. It was observed that variations in the concentrations of Pt, Cr, and Ni produced a strong influence on the catalytic activity as the acidity and porosity of the catalyst increased with their addition. The activity, selectivity, and catalytic stability tests of Pt/ZrO2-SO4, Cr/ZrO2-SO4 and Ni/ZrO2-SO4 were carried out with their application in the hydrocracking reaction to produce liquid fuel. The percentage of liquid fractions produced using these catalysts were higher than the fraction produced using pure ZrO2 and ZrO2-SO4 catalyst.

Highlights

Zirconium dioxide, known as zirconia, is a crystalline oxide of zirconium that found form in the mineral baddeleyite
Subsequent research related to the synthesis of platinum‐loaded sulfated zirconia catalysts using the hydrothermal method was reported by Utami et al [9]
The ZrO2‐SO4 catalyst treated with Platinum (Pt) and Chrome (Cr) transition metals had significantly increased acidity

Summary

Introduction

Known as zirconia, is a crystalline oxide of zirconium that found form in the mineral baddeleyite. The catalytic activity of sulfated zirconia catalyst during the hydrocracking reaction at high temperature decreases due to the deactivation catalyst. This process requires an appropriate catalyst to in‐ crease the catalytic activity of sulfated zirconia, as well as the acidity and liquid yield [7,8]. Supported noble metals such as Platinum (Pt), Chromium (Cr), and Nickel (Ni) as a promoter have shown good catalytic activity in the hydrocracking reaction. ZrO2 has a structure with va‐ cant sites on its surface that can allow cations to enter [21,22]

ZrO2‐SO4 Catalyst

Elemental Composition Characterization Using EDXRF

Pt metal Composition Identification Using XPS

Conclusions

Future Suggestion