Evaluation of favorable operating conditions for quinoline hydrodenitrogenation

Abstract

Economic and environmental aspects render nitrogen removal from oil loads increasingly more necessary. Studies have proven that it is possible to achieve high selectivity to quinoline hydrodenitrogenation products using PtMo bimetallic catalysts supported on zeolites. However, the reaction follows the route of higher hydrogen consumption. The main products in this reaction are propylcyclohexene, propylbenzene, and propylcyclohexane, being more selective for propylcyclohexane, which is directly related to increased hydrogen consumption. Therefore, the identification of the best conditions of temperature and hydrogen flow to make the process more selective for propylbenzene is of interest. The study conducted in UniSim? Software showed considerable improvements in selectivity with increasing the temperature of reaction between 450 and 500?C. Additionally, the catalytic tests confirmed that the bimetallic catalyst reached higher selectivity when the temperature of 460?C was used, as determined by simulation. The experimental results and the simulation analysis showed that molybdenum in catalysts is essential for HDN reactions and that temperature is a key factor toward propylbenzene selectivity.