Hydrocracking of vacuum gas oil in the presence of supported nickel-tungsten catalysts

The supports containing 70% Al2O3 and 30% β zeolite (AZ-1 and AZ-2), which differed in mixing procedures, and the Ni-W/AZ-1 and Ni-W/AZ-2 catalysts were characterized using an adsorption technique, high-resolution electron microscopy, IR spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and tested in the hydrocracking reaction of vacuum gas oil (VGO). It was found that the supports differed in texture characteristics and surface Lewis acidity at the same composition and similar concentrations of Brønsted acid sites. The formation of Ni-W-S sulfide species on the surfaces of both of the supports occurred in different manners: multilayer Ni-W-S sulfide species were formed on AZ-1 (Ssp = 220 m2/g), whereas single-layer species were mainly formed on AZ-2 (Ssp = 380 m2/g). It was found that catalysts containing multilayer Ni-W-S sulfide species, which were characterized by a higher degree of sulfidation, provided a higher yield of diesel fuel upon the hydrocracking of VGO, whereas catalysts containing single-layer Ni-W-S sulfide species were more active in the reactions of VGO hydrodesulfurization and hydrodenitration.