Upgrading of vacuum residue in batch type reactor using Ni–Mo supported on goethite catalyst

Abstract

It is imperative to develop an efficient catalyst to convert vacuum residue (VR) into low boiling point liquid products via an environmentally benign pathway. Ni–Mo bimetal was impregnated on goethite supports and well characterized using various analytical techniques. VR hydrocracking catalytic activities were investigated in a batch reactor. The 1%Ni–4.5%Mo/Goethite catalyst showed a high yield of low boiling point liquid products, 69.8%, with 80% VR conversion at 420°C in the presence of 70bar initial hydrogen pressure in 3h. In these liquid products, 8.6% of naphtha, 51.4% of middle distillate, 9.8% of vacuum gas oil (VGO) with 28.1% of saturates, 62.5% of aromatics, 8.4% of resins and >1% of asphaltenes were confirmed by TGA and SARA analysis, respectively. The experimental findings indicated that the formation of low boiling point liquid products depends on physical parameters and chemical composition of the catalyst. This paper describes the synthesis of the supported catalysts, influences of the active metal composition, metal/support interaction, and process parameters for hydrocracking of VR into high value, low boiling point liquid products.