10
complex mixtures comprising multiple metals along with one or more additives/
promoters, it is very important to understand the complexity of the catalytic system
for the following reasons:
• Design and development of a new catalyst system (Catalyst manufacturer).
• Monitor the quality of manufactured catalysts (Catalyst manufacturer).
• Selection of a better catalyst system for existing units (Refiner).
There is continuous and enormous progress being made in the development and
application of highly sophisticated catalyst characterization tools that revolutionized the field of heterogeneous catalysis. Since the refining catalysis is mostly based
on heterogeneous catalyst systems, researchers quickly made use of sophisticated
characterization equipment to synthesize highly active, selective, and stable catalysts by tailoring the composition, structure, and other properties. Catalyst characterization and testing can be broadly classified into three distinct but interrelated
groups as presented in Table 4.
Chemical composition refers to the concentration of various catalytic materials/
functional groups present on the surface of the hydrotreating catalyst. The texture of
the catalyst includes both geometric structure and morphology, ranging from macroscale down to microscale. Mechanical properties such as abrasion/attrition resistance, crushing strength, and thermal shock resistance are also very important
during industrial operations. Evaluation of catalyst performance involves the characterization of the catalyst in terms of activity, product selectivity, and catalyst life.
6 Advances in Hydrotreating Catalysts
Catalysts play a pivotal role during hydrotreating of different petroleum fractions,
either to produce clean fuels or pretreat the feeds prior to further processing.
Catalysts usually enhance the rate of different hydrotreating reactions such as HDS,
Table 4 Classification of catalyst characterization and testing [10]
S.
no. Classification
Referred properties
1
Evaluation of chemical composition
and chemical structure
• Elemental composition, surface composition
• Composition, structure, and properties of
individual crystallographic phases
• Nature and properties of functional groups
present on the catalyst surface
2
Evaluation of texture and mechanical
properties
• Size and shape of catalyst particles
• Surface area
• Pore size, pore size distribution
• Attrition resistance
• Crushing strength
3
Evaluation of catalyst performance
• Catalyst activity
• Catalyst selectivity
• Catalyst stability measured in terms of life
G. Valavarasu and B. Ramachandrarao
complex mixtures comprising multiple metals along with one or more additives/
promoters, it is very important to understand the complexity of the catalytic system
for the following reasons:
• Design and development of a new catalyst system (Catalyst manufacturer).
• Monitor the quality of manufactured catalysts (Catalyst manufacturer).
• Selection of a better catalyst system for existing units (Refiner).
There is continuous and enormous progress being made in the development and
application of highly sophisticated catalyst characterization tools that revolutionized the field of heterogeneous catalysis. Since the refining catalysis is mostly based
on heterogeneous catalyst systems, researchers quickly made use of sophisticated
characterization equipment to synthesize highly active, selective, and stable catalysts by tailoring the composition, structure, and other properties. Catalyst characterization and testing can be broadly classified into three distinct but interrelated
groups as presented in Table 4.
Chemical composition refers to the concentration of various catalytic materials/
functional groups present on the surface of the hydrotreating catalyst. The texture of
the catalyst includes both geometric structure and morphology, ranging from macroscale down to microscale. Mechanical properties such as abrasion/attrition resistance, crushing strength, and thermal shock resistance are also very important
during industrial operations. Evaluation of catalyst performance involves the characterization of the catalyst in terms of activity, product selectivity, and catalyst life.
6 Advances in Hydrotreating Catalysts
Catalysts play a pivotal role during hydrotreating of different petroleum fractions,
either to produce clean fuels or pretreat the feeds prior to further processing.
Catalysts usually enhance the rate of different hydrotreating reactions such as HDS,
Table 4 Classification of catalyst characterization and testing [10]
S.
no. Classification
Referred properties
1
Evaluation of chemical composition
and chemical structure
• Elemental composition, surface composition
• Composition, structure, and properties of
individual crystallographic phases
• Nature and properties of functional groups
present on the catalyst surface
2
Evaluation of texture and mechanical
properties
• Size and shape of catalyst particles
• Surface area
• Pore size, pore size distribution
• Attrition resistance
• Crushing strength
3
Evaluation of catalyst performance
• Catalyst activity
• Catalyst selectivity
• Catalyst stability measured in terms of life
G. Valavarasu and B. Ramachandrarao