Mesityl Oxide Reduction by Using Acid-Modified Phonolite Supported NiW, NiMo, and CoMo Catalysts

Mesityl oxide is standardly used to produce methyl iso butyl ketone but it can be also used to produce other useful compounds. Three catalysts were used for the reaction of the mesityl oxide reduction. They were NiW, NiMo, and CoMo supported on phonolite modified by HCl (metals/Ph-HCl). The fresh catalysts were characterized by XRD, XRF, BET surface, Hg porosimetry, SEM, H2-TPR, NH3-TPD, CO2-TPD. The materials were directly used, previously reduced in H2 or sulfided for the mesityl oxide reduction under H2 atmosphere. The reaction was performed in an autoclave at T = 375 °C, p = 50 bar (H2), and TOS = 1.5 h. The products were analyzed by GC/MS, GC/FID-TCD, ATR. The main products were methyl isobutyl ketone, 2-methyl pentane, and 2-methyl-2-pentene. Sulfided metal catalysts were the most active in the methyl isobutyl ketone, where the NiWSx/Ph-HCl catalyst showed the highest activity. For the non-previously-activated and hydrogen activated catalysts the most active catalyst was the NiMo/Ph-HCl for the production of methyl isobutyl ketone. The catalyst CoMo/Ph-HCl activated in hydrogen was the most active for the production of 2-methyl pentane compared to the other two hydrogen-activated materials.

Niobium oxide (Nb2O5) as support for CoMo and NiW catalysts in the hydrodesulfurization reaction of 3-methylthiophene

The efficiency of niobium oxide as catalytic support of hydrodesulfurization (HDS) catalysts (CoMo and NiW) has been investigated in the HDS of a model molecule representative of sulfur compounds present in FCC gasoline (3-methylthiophene: 3MT). The NiW catalyst presented higher catalytic activity than CoMo calcined and non-calcined catalyst, however a better ratio pentane/pentene has been achieved by CoMo catalysts, which implies a lower formation of hydrogenated products. Indeed, the activity order for the catalysts evaluated is: NiW/Nb2O5 > CoMo/Nb2O5 calcined support > CoMo/Nb2O5 non-calcined support, despite the ratio pentane/pentene which has the inverse order. Furthermore, textural and chemical characterization techniques have been performed. From NH3-TPD analysis it was observed an acidity profile with a predominance of weak/strong and weak/moderate acid for CoMo and NiW catalysts, respectively. Meanwhile, the BET analysis has shown a low specific surface area for the catalysts supported by niobium oxide. Concerning the structure characteristic, the XRD analysis has suggested an amorphous phase in all catalysts analyzed.

Synthesis, application and kinetic modeling of CeOx–Si–CoMo catalysts for the hydrodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene

CeOx–Si–CoMo catalysts for efficient hydrodesulfurization (HDS) activity of dibenzothiophene: role of ceria in catalyst activity and product selectivity.