Catalytic hydroconversion of Yinggemajianfeng lignite over difunctional Ni-Mg2Si/γ-Al2O3

Abstract A highly active difunctional Ni-Mg 2 Si/γ-Al 2 O 3 was prepared by thermally decomposing nickel tetracarbonyl onto γ-Al 2 O 3 impregnated with Mg 2 Si. The non-catalytic hydroconversion (NCHC) and catalytic hydroconversion (CHC) of the extract ( E ) and extraction residue (ER) from Yinggemajianfeng lignite were investigated over Ni-Mg 2 Si/γ-Al 2 O 3 at 240 °C in n -hexane. Benzyloxybenzene and oxybis(methylene)dibenzene were used as lignite-related model compounds to speculate the possible mechanisms for the catalytic hydrocracking and hydrogenation over Ni-Mg 2 Si/γ-Al 2 O 3 . As a result, more organic matter in ER was converted to soluble portion (SP) by the CHC than by the NCHC. The main SP from the CHC are chain alkanes and cyclanes, while that from the NCHC is rich in arenes and oxygen-containing organic compounds. The results indicate that Ni-Mg 2 Si/γ-Al 2 O 3 effectively catalyze the hydrocracking of >C alk –O– linkages and the hydrogenation of aromatic rings in E and ER.