Sulphided Catalyst Preparation Using Glycolic Acid Ethoxylate Ethers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydrotreating catalysts face deactivation due to sulfur-containing and nitrogen-containing contaminants in refinery feeds, leading to reduced activity, and existing methods for preparing sulphided catalysts do not consistently achieve optimal hydrotreating performance while being environmentally friendly.
Innovation Solution
A process involving treatment of a catalyst carrier with Group VIB and Group VIII metal components, followed by glycolic acid ethoxylate ether compounds, and subsequent sulphiding to create a sulphided catalyst, which is dried at a temperature of at most 200 °C, using a porous refractory oxide like alumina as the carrier, enhancing hydrotreating activity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional pre-sulphidation treatments are used with traditional sulphur-containing compounds, then the catalyst achieves basic hydrotreating activity, but the environmental impact is poor and the activity is insufficient for stricter environmental requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the pre-sulphidation treatment by using organometallic compounds containing metal-carbon bonds instead of traditional inorganic sulphur compounds. This parameter change enables the catalyst to achieve enhanced hydrotreating activity while the organic nature of the compounds improves environmental compatibility by reducing the formation of harmful inorganic sulphur byproducts
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs composite organometallic compounds that combine metal centres (Group VI and/or Group VIII metals) with organic ligands containing carbon-metal bonds. These composite materials provide dual functionality: the metal centres catalyse hydrotreating reactions while the organic framework enables controlled pre-sulphidation with reduced environmental impact compared to traditional sulphur compounds
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional catalyst preparation methods are used, then the process is simpler, but the hydrotreating activity and catalytic performance are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies preliminary action by incorporating organometallic compounds into the catalyst formulation before the actual hydrotreating operation. The pre-sulphidation treatment using these compounds occurs during catalyst preparation, creating an optimised sulphided catalyst structure in advance that delivers enhanced catalytic performance from the start of operation without requiring complex post-preparation treatments
Solution Approach 2:
The organometallic compounds serve as intermediaries that facilitate the pre-sulphidation process. These compounds contain metal-carbon bonds that act as a bridge between the metal precursors and the sulphur environment, enabling controlled conversion to active metal sulphides with improved catalytic properties while maintaining process feasibility
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The process results in a sulphided catalyst with improved hydrotreating activity and environmental attractiveness, demonstrating higher catalytic performance and stability compared to traditional methods, particularly in hydrodesulphurization of distillate feedstocks, achieving ultra-low sulphur concentrations.
Implementation Method 1
treating a catalyst carrier first with one or more Group VIB metal components and one or more Group VIII metal components and subsequently with a glycolic acid ethoxylate ether compound
Implementation Method 2
sulphiding the dried impregnated carrier to obtain a sulphided catalyst
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a process for preparing a sulphided catalyst comprising the steps of (a) treating a catalyst carrier with one or more Group VIB metal components, one or more Group VIII metal components and a glycolic acid ethoxylate ether compound according to the formula (I) R-(CH2)x–CH2–O-[-(CH2)2-O-]m-CH2–COOH (I) wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group containing of from 5 to 20 carbon atoms,x is in the range of from 1 to 15, and m is in the range of from 1 to 10, and wherein the molar ratio of compound (I) to the Group VIB and Group VIII metal content is at least 0.01:1to 1:0.01;(b)drying the treated catalyst carrier at a temperature of at most 200 °C to form a dried impregnated carrier; and (c) sulphiding the dried impregnated carrier to obtain a sulphided catalyst.