Influence of Mechanical Activation on the Properties of Oil Refining Supports and Catalysts

Scientific publications and patents on mechanochemical synthesis of inorganic supports and catalysts of oil refining processes (cracking, reforming, hydrotreating, and hydrocracking) were analyzed. It was shown that the introduction of mechanical activation into the process of synthesis of inorganic supports and catalysts typically enhances their catalytic activity and selectivity. Features of the mechanochemical synthesis of complex nickel-molybdenum oxides, which are precursors of nickel-molybdenum sulfide hydrotreating catalysts, were considered. It was demonstrated that, under mechanical activation conditions, it is possible to prepare β-NiMoO4, a highly active and thermostable nickel-molybdenum oxide containing Mo in tetrahedral coordination. The technology of producing highly dispersed carbide-containing catalysts with the use of the mechanical activation method, developed at the Institute of Hydrocarbon Processing, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, was described. The texture and morphology of the resultant highly dispersed bulk carbide-containing catalysts were considered. The size of the active particles was estimated at 2–5 nm. Сatalytic tests revealed high catalytic activity of the highly dispersed carbide-containing catalysts in the model reaction of dibenzothiophene hydrodesulfurization.