CATALYSIS OF IRON SULFATES ON HYDROCONVERSION OF 1-METHYLNAPHTHALENE

In order to develop suitable catalyst for hydroconversion of heavy hyd rocarbon materials, possibility of high quality catalyst production fr om iron sulfates was pursued on the hydroconversion of 1-methylnaphtha lene (1-MN). Catalytic activities of iron sulfates were very low in th e absence of sulfur (S). Hydrogenation activity of ferrous sulfate dra matically increased with addition of S, Activity of ferric sulfate, ho wever, did not increase with addition of S. From XRD analysis of catal ysts recovered after the reaction, it indicated that ferrous sulfate w as transformed to pyrrhotites Fe1-xS above 350 degrees C in the presen ce of enough S. But ferric sulfate was not transformed to pyrrhotites easily. Effect of reaction temperature and additive effects of S, pres ulfiding temperature and sulfuric acid to the activity, selectivity an d structure of iron sulfates were investigated in detail. From results of 1-MN hydroconversion, ferrous sulfate is revealed one of useful ca talyst precursors for hydrogenation of aromatic hydrocarbon. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.