The Role of Catalyst Promotive Additives and Temperature in the Hydroisodewaxing Process

One of the valuable fractions of paraffinic oils is the diesel fraction, which can be used as a commercial fuel. However, the high content of alkanes of normal structure (~10-40%) in the diesel fraction leads to a deterioration in the performance characteristics of the fuel and, as a result, the inability to use the diesel fraction without additional processing in the cold season at lower temperatures, which is critical for many regions with cold winters. The process of catalytic dewaxing is one of the most promising ways to improve the low-temperature characteristics of diesel fractions. This work is devoted to studying the activity of promoted Ni, Mo, and Ni-Mo catalysts based on mesoporous aluminosilicate and pre-activated bentonite in dewaxing diesel fractions. The effect of the nature and content of promoting additives on the activity of bifunctional catalysts in the process of hydroisodewaxing of diesel fraction in a flow-type reactor in the temperature range of 260-340 °C, pressure of 2 MPa and feed space velocity of 1 h-1 was studied. It is shown that the synthesized bifunctional catalysts based on mesoporous aluminosilicate and pre-activated bentonite from the Tagan field (Ni/MAS-H-bentonite, Mo/MAS-H-bentonite, and Ni-Mo/MAS-H-bentonite) have the necessary balance of Lewis and Bronsted acid centers strengths. It allows them to selectively conduct the hydroisodewaxing process. It has been established that the use of the synthesized 5% Ni-1% Mo/MAS-H-bentonite bifunctional catalyst in the diesel fractions hydroisodewaxing process under optimal process conditions makes it possible to obtain diesel fuel with low-temperature characteristics that meet the requirements for cold climate fuels: cold filter plugging point (CFPP)-minus 33 °C, flash point in a closed cup-39 °C and pour point-minus 36 °C.

Tandem Reactions over Zeolite-Based Catalysts in Syngas Conversion

Syngas conversion can play a vital role in providing energy and chemical supplies while meeting environmental requirements as the world gradually shifts toward a net-zero. While prospects of this process cannot be doubted, there is a lingering challenge in distinct product selectivity over the bulk transitional metal catalysts. To advance research in this respect, composite catalysts comprising traditional metal catalysts and zeolites have been deployed to distinct product selectivity while suppressing side reactions. Zeolites are common but highly efficient materials used in the chemical industry for hydroprocessing. Combining the advantages of zeolites and some transition metal catalysts has promoted the catalytic production of various hydrocarbons (e.g., light olefins, aromatics, and liquid fuels) and oxygenates (e.g., methanol, dimethyl ether, formic acid, and higher alcohols) from syngas. In this outlook, a thorough revelation on recent progress in syngas conversion to various products over metal-zeolite composite catalysts is validated. The strategies adopted to couple the metal species and zeolite material into a composite as well as the consequential morphologies for specific product selectivity are highlighted. The key zeolite descriptors that influence catalytic performance, such as framework topologies, proximity and confinement effects, acidities and cations, pore systems, and particle sizes are discussed to provide a deep understanding of the significance of zeolites in syngas conversion. Finally, an outlook regarding challenges and opportunities for syngas conversion using zeolite-based catalysts to meet emerging energy and environmental demands is also presented.

The mesoporous aluminosilicate application as support for bifunctional catalysts for n-hexadecane hydroconversion

Mesoporous aluminosilicate (MAS) and bifunctional catalysts based on it were synthesized. The MAS synthesis is based on the method of copolycondensation of silicon and aluminum sources in the presence of alcohol. Hexadecylamine was used as a template for the formation of a porous structure. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia, hydrogen-temperature programmed reduction, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy, and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopic methods. The catalytic activity of Ni/MAS-H-bentonite and Mo/MAS-H-bentonite was investigated during the hydroconversion of n-hexadecane. It has been shown that a sample promoted with molybdenum and nickel based on MAS has the high activity and selectivity in the process of n-hexadecane hydroisomerization under optimal conditions (320°C, atm pressure).

Structural insight into an atomic layer deposition (ALD) grown Al2O3 layer on Ni/SiO2: impact on catalytic activity and stability in dry reforming of methane

The development of stable Ni-based dry reforming of methane (DRM) catalysts is a key challenge owing to the high operating temperatures of the process and the propensity of Ni for promoting carbon deposition. In this work, Al2O3-coated Ni/SiO2 catalysts have been developed by employing atomic layer deposition (ALD). The structure of the catalyst at each individual preparation step was characterized in detail through a combination of in situ XAS-XRD, ex situ 27Al NMR and Raman spectroscopy. Specifically, in the calcination step, the ALD-grown Al2O3 layer reacts with the SiO2 support and Ni, forming aluminosilicate and NiAl2O4. The Al2O3-coated Ni/SiO2 catalyst exhibits an improved stability for DRM when compared to the benchmark Ni/SiO2 and Ni/Al2O3 catalysts. In situ XAS-XRD during DRM together with ex situ Raman spectroscopy and TEM of the spent catalysts confirm that the ALD-grown Al2O3 layer suppresses the sintering of Ni, in turn reducing also coke formation significantly. In addition, the formation of an amorphous aluminosilicate phase by the reaction of the ALD-grown Al2O3 layer with the SiO2 support inhibited catalysts deactivation via NiAl2O4 formation, in contrast to the reference Ni/Al2O3 system. The in-depth structural characterization of the catalysts provided an insight into the structural dynamics of the ALD-grown Al2O3 layer, which reacts both with the support and the active metal, allowing to rationalize the high stability of the catalyst under the harsh DRM conditions.

Oxy-Steam Reforming of Natural Gas on Ni Catalysts—A Minireview

Nowadays, the reforming of natural gas is the most common of hydrogen or syngas generation process. Each reforming process leads to the achievement of specific goals and benefits related to investment costs. The disadvantage of the reforming process is the need to preclean it mostly from the sulfur and nitrogen compounds. The solution to this problem may be liquefied natural gas (LNG). Liquefied natural gas has recently been seen as an energy source and may be a promising replacement for natural gas. The constant development of the pipeline network, safe transport and a lot of advantages of LNG were contributed to the research development related to the usage of LNG in energy generation technologies. The presented review is a literature discussion on the processing of methane used to produce hydrogen with particular emphasis on the processes of oxy-steam reforming of natural or liquefied natural gas (OSR-LNG). In addition, a key consideration in this article includes Ni catalyst systems used in the oxy-steam reforming of methane or LNG reactions. An analysis of the OSR process conditions, the type of catalyst and the OSR of the methane reaction mechanism may contribute to the development of a modern, cheap catalyst system, which is characterized by high activity and stability in the oxy-steam reforming of natural gas or LNG (OSR-LNG).

Template-Assisted Wet-Combustion Synthesis of Fibrous Nickel-Based Catalyst for Carbon Dioxide Methanation and Methane Steam Reforming

Efficient capture and recycling of CO₂ enable not only prevention of global warming but also the supply of useful low-carbon fuels. The catalytic conversion of CO₂ into an organic compound is a promising recycling approach which opens new concepts and opportunities for catalytic and industrial development. Here we report about template-assisted wet-combustion synthesis of a one-dimensional nickel-based catalyst for carbon dioxide methanation and methane steam reforming. Because of a high temperature achieved in a short time during reaction and a large amount of evolved gases, the wet-combustion synthesis yields homogeneously precipitated nanoparticles of NiO with average particle size of 4 nm on alumina nanofibers covered with a NiAl₂O₄ nanolayer. The as-synthesized core-shell structured fibers exhibit outstanding activity in steam reforming of methane and sufficient activity in carbon dioxide methanation with 100% selectivity toward methane formation. The as-synthesized catalyst shows stable operation under the reaction conditions for at least 50 h.

Butanol reforming: an overview on recent developments and future aspects

Recently, hydrogen is utilized by numerous chemical industries as an alternate over non-renewable fuels, and surely it will be considered as an important fuel in the near future. This paper reports a review of various reforming technologies for hydrogen production from butanol produced by fermentation of feedstocks like wheat, sugar beets, sugar cane, etc. with a number of aspects involving selection of an appropriate catalyst to suppress undesirable products as many reforming reactions are dependent on the catalyst properties to enhance the formation of significant fuels which may fulfill the future energy needs. An overview of butanol reforming processes with experimental and theoretical studies in order to grasp possibilities and restrictions of these processes is not comprehensively presented yet. In this paper, an assessment of published articles in brief related to essential parameters to carry out a pertinent research in the future is presented for the advancement of fuel processing technologies.

Vapor phase aldol condensation of methyl acetate with formaldehyde over a Ba–La/Al2O3 catalyst: the stabilizing role of La and effect of acid–base properties

Vapor phase aldol condensation of methyl acetate with formaldehyde was studied over Ba–La/Al₂O₃ with different amounts of lanthanum catalysts.

CO2reforming of methane over highly active La-promoted Ni supported on SBA-15 catalysts: mechanism and kinetic modelling

Various Ni catalysts were synthesized by combining a high surface area SBA-15 support, a novel preparation method using an oleic acid precursor to obtain highly dispersed and small Ni particles, and the basic property of La.