Catalysts of Hydrogenation Processes

Hydrogenation reactions are the basis of oil refining industry. Hydrogenation process is a thermocatalytic conversion of oil feed by means of Hydrogen. There are the following types of hydrogenation processes differentiating according to the depth and functionality of hydrogen impact: hydrotreating, hydrodesulfurization, hydrocracking (Catalysts for hydrotreating of crude oil).

The market share of hydrotreating catalysts (hydrotreating of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel) is about 40% of the world market of catalysts for oil refinery. It is expected that oil quality will progressively deteriorate in the coming years that’s why more and more crude and sour oil will be supplied to refineries. Therefore and because of the increasing demand for premium fuels that is explained by the strengthening of environmental requirements, the role of catalytic processes is increasing. So the demand for hydrotreating catalysts will increase as well.

It is extremely undesirable for diesel and gasoline fractions to contain sulfur, nitrogen and oxygen because it causes deterioration of diesel and internal combustion engines inducing the formation of sludge and so-called lacquer films. These compounds are undesirable from the environmental point of view as well. Not only final base products but feed components for other units where sulfur, nitrogen and oxygen-containing compounds and heavy metals are unacceptable, are hydrotreated.

The following catalysts are usually used in hydrotreating: alumina-cobalt-molybdenum ACM catalysts (9-15% МоО3, 2-4% СоО) or alumina-nickel-molybdenum catalysts ANM (up to 12% of NiO and up to 4% of CoO), the binder is Al2O3, sometimes used with zeolite and aluminosilicate additives and others.
Hydrotreating units mainly work with ACM catalysts. ANM, HF (hydroforming), HCG and their combinations are also used.  The most hydrotreating units for diesel fuel use the combination of ACM (ANMS), HCD and HS catalysts.  

Vacuum gasoil, feed for catalytic cracking, undergoes hydrodesulfurization process with the help of HF catalyst.
Hydrocracking is the process of producing high-quality kerosene, diesel distillates and vacuum gasoil by cracking hydrocarbons of feedstock in the presence of hydrogen. Concurrently with cracking the product is purified from sulfur, saturated with olefins’ and aromatic compounds’ that allows to obtain high operational and environmental characteristics of fuel.
Hydrogenation catalysts produced by KNT Group are at the level of the catalysts of other manufactures and even surpass them. It is proved by successful operating experience of the catalysts at the numerous refineries of Russia, neighbouring countries and beyond.