Carbon nanofibres coated with Ni decorated MoS2 nanosheets as catalyst for vacuum residue hydroprocessing

Carbon nanofibres coated with Ni decorated MoS2 nanosheets as catalyst for vacuum residue hydroprocessing

Type	Journal Article
Author	J. L. Pinilla
Author	H. Purón
Author	D. Torres
Author	S. de Llobet
Author	R. Moliner
Author	I. Suelves
Author	M. Millan
URL	http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926337313007042
Volume	148–149
Pages	357-365
Publication	Applied Catalysis B: Environmental
Date	April 27, 2014
Abstract	Researchers obtained catalysts based on functionalised carbon nanofibers (FCNF) coated with Ni-decorated MoS2 nanosheets by direct decomposition of ammonium thiomolybdate and nickel nitrate impregnated on the FCNF under controlled temperature conditions in inert atmosphere. They observed decomposition temperature to have a paramount importance in the formation of uniform MoS2 slabs, as revealed by the TEM study. At 600 °C, they noted non-uniform covering of the carbon nanofiber (CNF) along with the presence of small round-shaped metal particles. On the other hand, at 450 °C CNF appeared homogeneously covered by amorphous MoS2 slabs decorated with Ni. This produced a higher amount of coordinated unsaturated sites (CUS), as determined by TPR-S. Test results of catalysts in the hydroprocessing of a vacuum residue were compared against a benchmark alumina-supported NiMo catalyst. Higher asphaltene conversions were achieved for the CNF-supported catalysts prepared at 450 °C. This outperformed the Al2O3-supported benchmark catalyst. The catalytic performance in hydrodesulfurisation and hydrodemetallisation of the CNF-based catalysts, however, was slightly lower than that of the benchmark catalyst.