Comparison between Conventional and Metakaolin bi-functional Catalyst in the Hydrodesulfurization Operation

The present study investigates hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of gas oil with 9300 ppm (0.93 wt%) sulfur supplied from Al-Dura Refinery by using an economic catalyst prepared from raw mineral (kaolin clay) cemented by alumina as composite support alumina meta-kaolin (AMK). Characterization of the prepared catalyst was achieved by using Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis  (EDAX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), BET surface area, pore volume , Bulk density, X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). AMK was modified as a bifunctional catalyst with active metal (Co and Mo). The hydrodesulfurization (HDS) efficiency was evaluated and compared with the traditional catalyst (CoMo-Al2O3) in a hydrotreating reaction carried out in one stage reactor at temperature 375 oC, pressure 40 bar, LHSV 1hr-1, and H2/HC ratio 200 vol. ratio.  62.2% and 90% of hydrodesulfurization efficiency were achieved for prepared catalyst (CoMo-AMK) and commercial CoMo-Al2O3 respectively at the same operating conditions.