Hydrocracking of Gudao residue with dispersed-phase Mo catalyst

In this study, hydrocracking of Gudao vacuum residue was carried out in an internally stirred autoclave in the presence of several kinds of dispersed water and oil soluble unsupported Mo catalysts. The benzene insolubles formed were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The chemical compositions of the cracked gases and residues were analysed by gas chromatography and liquid chromatography (SARA method), respectively. From the XRD analyses, it was identified that the possible catalytically active phase generated from the dispersed Mo catalyst precursor was microcrystalline MoS2. The results indicate that the high dispersion method of the water soluble catalyst precursor postulated in this study, can promote catalytic activity of the catalyst. The experimental results also suggest that the dispersed-phase Mo catalyst can considerably inhibit polycondensation of resins and asphaltenes, and delay coke formation by way of promoting hydrogenation and hydrodesulfurization.