ORALS

The use of heavy oils as fuel is becoming less favorable due to the environmental concerns associated with them, and thus, it is highly recommended to convert them into lighter high-value products. An important process in the conversion of such fuels is hydro-cracking, a process by which heavy chemicals are converted into lighter and added value products [1]. The development of zeolites as catalysts in hydrocracking has caused a major breakthrough due to their superior activity, stability, and gasoline selectivity as compared to amorphous silica-alumina catalysts [2]. Y-type zeolites with uniform crystal pore sizes and strong Brønsted acidity arising from the bridging OH groups are widely used as catalysts in industrial processes such as, hydrocracking, isomerization, and alkylation [3]. Nonetheless, carbon-zeolite composites seem to be interesting catalysts for hydrocracking in which the zeolite serves as a support for metal nanoparticles and provides an acidic cracking function. Meanwhile, the CNTs and graphene provide high thermal stability and conductivity, as well as a large specific surface area. To further increase the performance of existing hydrocracking catalysts, we demonstrate a novel approach for the synthesis of hybrid catalysts composed of Y-type zeolite, nickel nanoparticles and nano-carbon material (CNTs, Graphene). The zeolites, having a SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio of 30, were loaded with Ni, in 5 wt. %, using the wet impregnation method, and were hyberdized with CNTs. Despite their unique properties of high surface area and thermal conductivity, CNTs shall also add mesoporosity to the microporous zeolites, forming a hierarchical porous material. The synthesized catalyst was later tested for heptane hydrocracking at two different temperatures, 350°C and 400°C for 20 hours of time-on-stream.

References:
[1] H. B. Park, K. D. Kim, and Y. K. Lee, “Promoting asphaltene conversion by tetralin for hydrocracking of petroleum pitch,” Fuel, vol. 222, no. February, pp. 105-113, 2018.
[2] C. L. Hemler and L. F. Smith, “UOP fluid catalytic cracking Process,” in Hand book of Petroleum refining Processes, Third., McGraw-Hill, 2004.
[3] G. Busca, “Acidity and basicity of zeolites: A fundamental approach,” Microporous Mesoporous Mater., vol. 254, no. June 2016, pp. 3-16, 2017.