The hydrogenation of Alberta bitumen over cobalt molybdate catalyst

Abstract

A laboratory investigation of the hydrogenation of Alberta bitumen over oxide and sulphide forms of commercial cobalt molybdate catalyst is described. Experiments were made with four reaction bed-preheater arrangements: a) porcelain ben l saddles in both the preheater and the reaction bed (a no-catalyst system); h) porcelain packing in the preheater section, followed by the oxide form of cobalt molybdate catalyst in the reaction bed; c) the oxide form of the cobalt molybdate catalyst in both the preheater and the reaction bed; and d) the sulphide form of the cobalt molybdate catalyst in both the preheater and the reaction bed. Coke was found to form quickly in the systems where Porcelain packing was used in the preheater section. Much improved operating life and activity were observed when the oil feed was brought up to temperature on catalyst packing. A marked increase in activity and operating stability ' was also observed when the bitumen was diluted slightly with a heavy gas-oil fraction. From the standpoint of the conversion of residuum to distillable oil, the all-sulphide catalyst system was more effective than the oxide, but the all-oxide system was more stable in operation and removed more sulphur. Under conditions where a high proportion of the products was in the liquid phase, the activity of the oxide system changed little with operation, whereas the activity of the sulphide catalyst decreased rapidly.

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Bitumen hydroprocessing: Effects of metal loading and promoters in Mo‐Al2 O3 catalytic systems

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