COMPARISON OF THE HYDRODENITROGENATION OF THE PETROLEUM MODEL NITROGEN-COMPOUNDS QUINOLINE AND INDOLE

The hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) of a basic petroleum model nitrogen compound 'quinoline' and a nonbasic one 'indole' is compared on a Co-Mo/Al//2O//3 catalyst under hydrotreating conditions. In the HDN of quinoline, step 1 is found the fastest whereas step 2 is the slowest while in indole HDN step 1 is the slowest and step 2 is the fastest. Hydrogen adsorption on the catalyst sites cannot be associated with the rate-controlling process. Ni-Mo and Ni-W on alumina catalysts are found more active for the HDN of both quinoline and indole than Co-Mo and Co-Ni-Mo on alumina catalysts. This activity is more significant toward indole on the first two catalysts.