Role of zeolite content in Ni-Mo/β-USY zeolite catalyst on hydrocracking of n-hexadecane and vacuum gas oil in a batch reactor and a fixed-bed reactor

Abstract

In this paper, different materials that involved amorphous silica–alumina and hydrothermally synthesized beta zeolite and treated Y zeolite (USY) were introduced as parts of the hydrocracking catalyst supports. The prepared supports were used for preparation of Ni-Mo/silica alumina–zeolite catalysts by wetness impregnation method. The prepared catalysts were characterized by BET, temperature programmed desorption (TPD), temperature programmed reduction (TPR), and field emission – scanning electron microscopy (FE–SEM) methods. Effect of zeolite type and content on hydrocracking of n-hexadecane and vacuum gas oil in a batch and a fixed-bed reactor was investigated. Also, the content of coke formed after reaction was measured by thermal gravimetric methods (TGA). Hydrocracking was done at 400 °C and 55 bar. The hydrocracking of vacuum gas oil results showed that in the Ni-Mo/10B-30USY catalyst containing higher USY zeolite with high total acidity, selectivity to middle distillate was higher than the other (90%). Moreover, the Ni-Mo/10B-30USY catalyst in hydrocracking of n-hexadecane had a higher yield (82%) and was more selective to heavier products (C9–C12). The findings indicated that in the Ni-Mo/10B-30USY catalyst, coke content was more than the other due to high acidity.