Hydroconversion of Oil Vacuum Distillation Residues in the Presence of Iron-Containing Catalysts In Situ Synthesized from Water-Soluble Precursors

Abstract

The hydroconversion of tars in the presence of in situ synthesized iron-containing catalysts is studied. Water-soluble iron compounds (FeSO₄, Fe(NO₃)₃, Fe(COOCH₃)₂) are used as precursors which are introduced into the processed feedstock in the composition of the aqueous phase of an inverted emulsion. The tests are conducted on a flow hydroconversion unit with a vertical hollow reactor. It is found that the catalytic activity of the Fe-containing precursors which, under hydroconversion conditions, form Fe_1–xS nanosized particles, in particular, from Fe(COOCH₃)₂, is close to the catalytic activity of previously studied nanodispersed MoS₂. A disadvantage of Fe-containing catalysts in situ synthesized from water-soluble iron compounds (FeSO₄, Fe(NO₃)₃, Fe(COOCH₃)₂) is a relatively high yield of condensation products (coke) under hydroconversion conditions.