Catalytic Hydrogenation over a Ni-Mo/γ-Al2O3 Catalyst of Model Compounds in Heavy Benzene Fractions

Heavy benzene is the byproduct in the benzene recovery workshop of a coking plant in China Heavy benzene fetched from the bottom of a crude benzene distillation column was separated by distillation, and the fractions with a boiling point range of 160-185 degrees C were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy A Ni-Mo/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst was prepared for hydrogenating the model compounds, including styrene and 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene (TMB), which was found in the fraction of heavy benzene Catalytic activity was evaluated in a 17 mL autoclave at 80-200 degrees C, 3 0-7 0 MPa cold hydrogen pressures, and 8-30 min reaction time The results indicated that TMB was almost not reactive in such conditions, however, the styrene conversion and corresponding selectivity of ethyl benzene increased with the increase of the reaction temperature, reaction time, H-2 pressure, and catalyst dosage The optimum conditions for maximum styrene conversion were 150 degrees C, 15 min, 5 MPa cold H-2 pressure, and 2 wt % (of reactant) catalyst dosage The results can offer some ideas for the hydrogenation process to Improve the quality of heavy benzene