CATALYST DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT FOR UPGRADING AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS

Background and strategy of catalyst development for upgrading aromatic hydrocarbons are intensively discussed. Originally prepared catalysts (hydrogenation and hydrocracking catalysts) were used for accelerated aging tests. Though each catalyst showed superior catalytic performan ce as compared to commercially available catalysts, a severe deactivat ion was observed on the hydrocracking (HC) catalysts. A new type of HC catalyst was designed and prepared, based on the understanding of cat alyst deactivation. High silica NaY zeolites were synthesized using cr own-ether. USY zeolites were then prepared by ion exchange, steaming a nd calcining. Surface properties and catalytic functions of well-cryst allized USY zeolites were investigated to develop practical HC catalys ts. The Ni-W catalyst prepared using the newly prepared USY zeolite sh owed a considerable improvement in the HC activity. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.