Performance of nickel supported AIMCM-41 catalyst in the hydroconversion of n-dodecane

A series of Ni catalysts supported on AlMCM-41 with different Si/Al ratio were prepared and characterized by N-2 absorption, XRD, NH3-TPD and H-2-TPR. It was shown that a part of AlMCM-41 framework collapsed and the interaction of Ni oxidic species with support increased with the increase of Al content after nickel impregnation. In addition, the acidity of the catalysts was mostly weak-medium one. The evaluation of the catalysts in the n-dodecane hydroconversion showed that, when the Si/Al ratio increased in the range of 17.4 similar to 38.7, the apparent n-dodecane conversion and the hydrogenolysis selectivity increased, while the isomerization selectivity passed through a maximum at Si/Al = 23.2 and then decreased. At Si/Al = 17.4, the metal/acid function of the catalyst was nearly in balance. The carbon number distribution of cracked products was symmetrical about C-6 and the higher i/n-(C-4 similar to C-9) ratio could be obtained.