Effect of Particle Size on the HDS Activity of Molybdenum Sulfide

Abstract

More than half of the total world oil reserves are heavy oil, extra heavy oil, and bitumen; however their catalytic conversion to more valuable products is challenging. The use of submicronic particles or nanoparticles of catalysts suspended in the feedstock may be a viable alternative to the conversion of heavy oils at refinery level or downhole (in situ upgrading). In the present work, molybdenum sulfide (MoS2) particles with varying diameters (10000–10 nm) were prepared using polyvinylpyrrolidone as capping agent. The prepared particles were characterized by DLS, TEM, XRD, and XPS and tested in the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of a vacuum gas oil (VGO). A correlation between particle size and activity is presented. It was found that particles with diameters around 13 nm show double the HDS activity compared with the material with micrometric particle sizes (diameter ≈ 10,000 nm).

Preparation of NiMoS nanoparticles for hydrotreating

“…Thus, Ye et al [8] synthesized NiMoO 2 S 2 nanoparticles (13 nm) using a microemulsion system, and the particles were tested as lubricant. FeMo and NiMo sulfide particles (400-600 nm and 30-100 nm) have been prepared [9,10] by thermal decomposition of emulsions, and tested in HDS of Thiophene or Vacuum Gas Oil. Also, using ultrasonic irradiation, NiMo and CoMo sulfide particles (250-500 nm) were synthesized and tested in the HDS of Thiophene and Benzothiophene [11].…”

Novel Impregnation–Deposition Method to Synthesize a Presulfided MoS2/Al2O3 Catalyst and Its Application in Hydrodesulfurization

“…This may be induced by the addition of the acid and, what is more, the formation of MoS 3 particles. Contreras and co-workers 45 put forward that the acidification of ATTM could endow the material with a large surface area in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone. In this experiment, although no template was added, the aggregation of MoS 3 particles was inhibited by the pore structures of Al 2 O 3 .…”

Synthesis, Characterization and Catalytic Activity of NiO-Mn2O3/ZrO2 Spinel Co-Catalysts

“…From these results one can concluded that co-catalyst 1 exhibited a best morphological surfaces and smallest particle size, while the other ratio and dual oxide spinel gives large particles size. All these particle size which lie in the meso region will be efficient and can improve catalytic activity of the used catalyst [24].…”