Journal of Petroleum & Environmental Biotechnology

Transition metal sulfide catalytic materials for hydroprocessing, F. T. synthesis and other applications

World Congress on Petrochemistry and Chemical Engineering

November 18-20, 2013 Hilton San Antonio Airport, TX, USA

Russell R. Chianelli

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Pet Environ Biotechnol

Abstract:

In this report we outline the growth in fundamental studies of structure/function in the TMS and suggest where improved understanding is needed. An understanding of the fundamental properties that lead to both the activity of the simple binary sulphides and the mechanism by which two metals (Co + Mo) acted together to enhance activity (promotion) has been developed. Initial efforts focused on supported commercial catalysts with limited success. In the early 1980?s the periodic trends of TMS catalysts on unsupported catalysts were discovered and these results formed the foundation for further basic understanding of the key properties that led to catalytic activity. These results have been extended over the years to include supported catalysts and many petroleum based substrates. Progress has been made by combining synthetic, experimental and theoretical techniques. Theoretical studies support the fact that the d-electrons in the frontier orbitals of the catalysts were key in determining catalysis at the surface. The triumph of this approach was that it unified the promoted TMS systems with the binary TMS and provided a common rational for the activity of both. Constant progress since then has been achieved through the application of Density Functional Theory (DFT) narrowing the gap between instinct and a formal description of catalyst structure/function made by combining synthetic, experimental and theoretical techniques. Theoretical studies support the fact that the d-electrons in the frontier orbitals of the catalysts were key in determining catalysis at the surface. The triumph of this approach was that it unified the promoted TMS systems with the binary TMS and provided a common rational for the activity of both. Constant progress since then has been achieved through the application of Density Functional Theory (DFT) narrowing the gap between instinct and a formal description of catalyst structure/function. It is crucial to remember that for real understanding to develop we must study the catalytically stabilized materials and not materials that are changing under catalytic conditions. In the case of the TMS this means that we must study materials like MoS 2-x C x and RuS 2-x C x . It has been demonstrated that ?surface carbides? are the catalytically stabilized state under hydro-treating conditions. The original relation between the d electrons and later DFT calculations all point to the importance of these electrons in the catalytic reaction. However, more work is needed to define the relation between these electrons and the stabilized carbide surfaces before detailed active site structures can be developed with confidence. In addition the presence of Co metal in active hydro-processing catalysts stabilized for four years in a commercial reactor, calls in to question current theories of the structure of promoted catalysts. In addition application of the above has created more active catalyst and these results will be presented (model and real feeds)

Biography :

Russell R. Chianelli is Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Materials Research and Technology Institute at the University of Texas at El Paso. Formerly at member of Exxon Research and Engineering?s Corporate Research Laboratory, Dr. Chianelli is a world authority on Transition Metal Sulfide Catalytic Materials with over 160 peer reviewed publications and over 60 issued U. S. Patents. His work is highly interdisciplinary and covers theory, experiment and application with commercializations based on his work. In 1990 he was the President of the Materials Research Society and scientific leader of the Exxon Valdez oil spill successful bioremediation effort. He has received several recognitions for his work and continues to lead in the understanding of Transition Metal Sulfide catalytic materials and their application to petroleum refining and coal gas catalysis