PROCESS FOR ACTIVATING A CATALYST CONTAINING AN S-CONTAINING ADDITIVE

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process for activating a catalyst composition comprising at least one hydrogenation metal component of Group VI and/or Group VIII of the Periodic Table, and an S-containing organic additive, wherein the catalyst is contacted with hydrogen at a temperature between room temperature and 600 DEG C, preferably 100-450 DEG C, characterised in that prior to or during the contacting with hydrogen the catalyst is contacted with an organic liquid. Preferably, the contacting with the organic liquid is carried out prior to the contacting with hydrogen. The organic liquid may be a hydrocarbon with a boiling range of 150-500 DEG C, preferably white oil, gasoline, diesel, or gas oil or mineral lube oil. It was found that the application of an organic liquid prior to or during the hydrogen treatment results in catalysts with an increased activity.

Description: PROCESS FOR ACTIVATING A CATALYST CONTAINING AN S- CONTAINING ADDITIVE The present invention relates to a process for activating catalysts containing an S-coπtaining organic additive, in particular a hydrotreating catalyst containing an S-containing organic additive. Hydrotreating catalysts comprise hydrogenation metal components, generally a Group VI metal component such as molybdenum and/or tungsten and a Group VIII metal component, such as nickel and/or cobalt generally on an oxidic carrier. Hydrotreating catalysts containing S-containing organic additives are known in the art. For example, European patent application 0 300 629 and European patent application No. 0 357 295 describe hydrotreating catalysts comprising a support impregnated with at least one member of molybdenum, tungsten, and/or Group VIII of the Periodic Table, and a mercapto-compound selected from mercaptocarboxylic acids, amino-substituted mercaptanes, di-mercaptanes, and thioacids. European patent application No. 0 506 206 also describes a hydrotreating catalyst comprising an S-containing additive selected from the group of bi- mercaptanes, aminosubstituted mercaptanes, and thiocarboxylic acids. Some of the catalysts described in this reference are activated by a treatment with hydrogen at a temperature from room temperature up to 400°C. Similar subject-matter is described in European patent application No. 0 338 788, and European patent application No. 0 289 211. US 4,636,487 describes a hydrotreating catalyst comprising a support and a hydroxymercaptide of one or more metals, which may be the reaction product of a mercaptoalcohol and one or more metal compounds. The catalyst may be activated with hydrogen at a temperature of 66-316°C. US 5, 139,990 describes a hydrotreating catalyst comprising a carrier and hydrogenation metal components which is treated with an aqueous medium comprising a water-soluble or water-miscible S-containing organic additive, followed by drying the resulting catalyst and activating it with hydrogen at a temperature of 100-600°C. European patent application No. 0 496 592 describes a hydrotreating catalyst comprising a carboxylic acid and an organic sulphur compound which may be a mercaptocarboxylic acid. WO 94/25157 is directed to a process for treating spontaneously combustible catalysts. It describes a process in which a catalyst is contacted with elemental sulphur and an oxygen-containing additive having at least 12 carbon atoms. The oxygen-containing additive is used to decrease the self-heating properties of the catalyst and improve sulphur retention. As indicated above, many of the catalysts containing an S-containing organic additive are activated by being contacted with hydrogen. It has now been found that the activity of these catalysts can be increased if the catalyst is contacted with an organic liquid either prior to or simultaneous with the contacting with hydrogen. Accordingly, the present invention pertains to a process for activating a catalyst composition comprising at least one hydrogenation metal component of Group VI or Group VIII of the Periodic Table, and an S-containing organic additive, wherein the catalyst is contacted with hydrogen at a temperature between room temperature and 600°C, characterised in that prior to or during the contacting with hydrogen the catalyst is contacted with an organic liquid. The addition of the organic liquid In the process according to the invention, an additive-containing catalyst is contacted with an organic liquid either prior to or during the hydrogen treatment. To achieve a more controllable process it is preferred for the organic liquid to be added in the absence of hydrogen prior to the hydrogen treatment. The organic liquid generally has a boiling range of 100-550°C, preferably 150- 500°C. It generally is a petroleum fraction. By their nature, petroleum fractions comprise less than 12 wt.% of oxygen. Petroleum fractions comprising less than 8 wt.% of oxygen, preferably less than 5 wt.%, more preferably less than 2 wt.%, specifically less than 0.5 wt.% of oxygen, may be preferred. Although the olefin content of the organic liquid is not critical to the process according to the invention, petroleum fractions with and iodine number of 50 or less, specifically 30 or less, may be preferred. Examples of suitable petroleum fractions include fractions comprising heavy oils, lubricating oil fractions like mineral lube oil (360°C < BP < 500°C), atmospheric gas oils, vacuum gas oils, straight run gas oils (250°C < BP < 350°C), white spirit (180°C < BP < 220°C), middle distillates like diesel, jet fuel and heating oil, naphthas, and gasoline. Preferably white oil, gasoline, diesel, gas oil, or mineral lube oil is used. The organic liquid appears to ensure that the catalyst is able to withstand the conditions prevailing during the hydrogen treatment, that is, during the contacting of the catalyst with hydrogen. The organic liquid is not particularly intended to bring sulphur into the catalyst, since the catalyst already contains sulphur in the form of the sulphur-containing additive. Nevertheless, petroleum cuts such as a gas oil or diesel may sometimes contain sulphur. Generally, the organic liquid will contain less than 10 wt.% of sulphur, preferably less than 5 wt.%. The amount of sulphur added with the organic liquid will be less than 40%, preferably less than 35% of the total amount of sulphur added to the catalyst with the organic liquid and by way of the sulphur-containing additive already present on the catalyst. The amount of organic liquid generally is 20-500% of the catalyst pore volume which can be filled with the liquid at issue under the conditions of application of the liquid. The pore volume can easily be determined by slowly adding liquid under said conditions to a certain amount of catalyst in a closed flask while shaking and determining by visual inspection when the liquid is no longer adsorbed. Another method is to add excess liquid and to remove the excess from the catalyst, e.g., by centrifugation. The person skilled in the art of pore volume impregnation is familiar with these procedures. To get the desired effect and avoid waste of material an amount of 50-200%, more in particular 50-125% of the catalyst pore volume, is preferred. Evidently, if excess liquid is present it can easily be removed, e.g., by drying the catalyst. The way in which the catalyst is contacted with the organic liquid is not critical to the invention as long as it is ensured that each catalyst particle is contacted with the organic liquid. Conventional mixing methods may be applied. The organic liquid is generally contacted with the catalyst particles at a temperature between room temperature and 200°C. Increased temperatures may sometimes be desired because they decrease the viscosity of the liquid. The suitable contacting time may depend on whether the operation is carried out ex situ or in situ. For ex situ operation the temperature may preferably be between room temperature and 75°C. For in situ operation the temperature may preferably be between 100 and 175°C. Either simultaneous with or after the incorporation of the organic liquid, the catalyst is contacted with hydrogen at a temperature between room temperature and 600°C, preferably between 100 and 450°C, more preferably between 200 and 400°C. The hydrogen treatment is not intended to introduce sulphur into the catalyst. Nevertheless, some S-containing compound, in particular some H 2 S, may be present in the hydrogen. It is intended to introduce less than 10% of the stoichiometric sulphur quantity necessary to convert the hydrogenation metals into Co 9 S 8 , MoS 2 , WS 2 , and Ni 3 S 2 , respectively, into the catalyst by way of S- containing compound added to the hydrogen, preferably less than 5%, more preferably in the substantial absence of S-containing compound added to the hydrogen. It is noted that the phrase "S-containing compound added to the hydrogen" is intended to refer to S-containing compound added extraneously to the hydrogen. It does not include S-containing compound, in particular H 2 S generated by decomposition of the S-containing organic additive. Recycle of the hydrogen gas may be an attractive option. The total amount of sulphur-containing compound which is incorporated into the catalyst in the process according to the invention, including the amount of sulphur added by way of the S-containing organic additive and the amount of sulphur added with the organic liquid, if any, is generally selected to correspond to 50-300%, preferably 70-200%, more preferably 80-150%, of the stoichiometric sulphur quantity necessary to convert the hydrogenation metals into CogS 8 , MoS 2 , WS 2 , and Ni 3 S 2 , respectively. The total pressure during the process according to the invention, more in particular, the pressure during the hydrogen activation step, is not critical. It will generally be between atmospheric pressure and 300 bar, depending on where the process is carried out. If the process, in particular the hydrogen activation step is carried out ex situ, the pressure may, e.g., be between atmospheric pressure and 10 bar. When the hydrogen treatment is carried out in situ, the pressure may be much higher, e.g., in the range of 25 to 300 bar. The contacting in the gaseous phase with hydrogen can be carried out in any suitable manner, including in fixed bed processes and moving bed processes. Since, depending on the nature of the S-containing organic additive, the activation of the catalyst with hydrogen may be exothermic by nature, it may be important that the temperature of the catalyst is well-controlled. Generally, such control is easier in a moving bed process. In the context of the present specification, a moving bed process is intended to encompass all processes in which the catalyst moves relative to the reactor. Examples are ebullated bed processes and processes carried out in a rotary furnace. In the latter case, the contacting can be done either co-currently or counter-currently, with counter- current operation being preferred. The various steps of the process according to the invention can be carried out ex situ or in situ. In the context of the present specification, the term in situ means in the reactor in which the catalyst will eventually be applied to effect hydrotreating. Conversely, ex situ means outside said reactor. For example, it is possible to effect the contacting with the organic liquid ex situ while the contacting with hydrogen is effected in situ. It is also possible to effect the complete process ex situ, or to effect the complete process in situ. It is generally preferred to carry out the complete process ex situ, because this generates less downtime for the hydrotreating reactor and simplifies the reactor start-up. If the complete process according to the invention is carried out ex situ, it may be desirable to passivate the activated catalyst prepared in this way, since the resulting catalyst is self-heating. Passivation can be done by contacting the catalyst with an oxygen-containing compound under controlled conditions. The use of an oxygen-containing gas, such as air, is a well-known embodiment. Alternatively, the catalyst may be passivated by being contacted with an organic liquid, such as diesel, gas oil, white spirit, or lube oil. Passivation processes are known in the art. See, for example, EP.-897 748 and NL 8900914, which describe the use of hydrocarbons, and V.M. Browne, S.P.A. Louwers, and R. Prins, Catalysis Today volume 10 number 3 pp 345-52 (1991) and S.P.A. Louwers, M.W.J. Craje, C. Geantet, A.M. van der Kraan, and R. Prins, Journal of Catalysis volume 144 number 2 pp. 579-96 (1993), both of which describe the use of oxygen. The additive-containing catalyst In principle, the additive-containing catalyst can be any catalyst which comprises a Group VIB hydrogenation metal component and/or a Group VIII hydrogenation metal component, and an S-containing organic additive, generally on a carrier. Catalysts comprising the combination of a Group VIB hydrogenation metal component and a Group VIII hydrogenation metal component are preferred. As the skilled person will recognise, the metals may be present in any form. When they are incorporated into the catalyst composition they are often in the form of their salts or oxides. After calcination they are converted partly or wholly into their respective oxides. After sulphidation and during use the metals are at least partly present in the sulphidic form. As Group VIB metals may be mentioned molybdenum, tungsten, and chromium. Group VIII metals include nickel, cobalt, and iron. Catalysts comprising molybdenum and/or tungsten as Group VIB metal component and nickel and/or cobalt as Group VIII metal component are the most common. The catalyst usually has a metal content in the range of 0.1 to 50 wt.% calculated as oxides on the dry weight of the catalyst not containing the additive. The Group VIB metal will frequently be present in an amount of 5-40 wt.%, preferably 15-30 wt.%, calculated as t oxide. The Group VIII metal will frequently be present in an amount of 1-10 wt.%, preferably 2-7 wt.%, calculated as monoxide. The catalyst may also contain other components, such as phosphorus, halogens, and boron. Particularly, the presence of phosphorus in an amount of 1-10 wt.%, calculated as P 2 O 5 , may be preferred. The catalyst carrier which is generally present may comprise the conventional oxides, e.g., alumina, silica, silica-alumina, alumina with silica-alumina dispersed therein, silica-coated alumina, magnesia, zirconia, boria, and titania, as well as mixtures of these oxides. As a rule, preference is given to the carrier comprising alumina, silica-alumina, alumina with silica-alumina dispersed therein, or silica-coated alumina. Special preference is given to the carrier consisting essentially of alumina or alumina containing up to 25 wt.% of other components, preferably silica. A carrier comprising a transition alumina, for example an eta, theta, or gamma alumina is preferred within this group, with a gamma-alumina carrier being especially preferred. Additionally, although at present less preferred, the catalyst may contain 0-60 wt.% of zeolite. The catalyst's pore volume (measured via N 2 adsorption) generally is in the range of 0.25 to 1 ml/g. The specific surface area will generally be in the range of 50 to 400 m 2 /g (measured using the BET method). Generally, the catalyst will have a median pore diameter in the range of 7-20 nm, as determined by N 2 adsorption. The figures for the pore size distribution and the surface area given above are determined after calcination of the catalyst at 500°C for one hour. The catalyst is suitably in the form of spheres, pellets, beads, or extrudates. Examples of suitable types of extrudates have been disclosed in the literature (see, int. al., US 4,028,227). Highly suitable are cylindrical particles (which may be hollow or not) as well as symmetrical and asymmetrical polylobed particles (2, 3 or 4 lobes). The additive present in the catalyst may be any S-containing organic additive. In the context of the present specification the term organic refers to an additive comprising at least one carbon atom and at least one hydrogen atom. Preferred compounds include organic compounds having at least one mercapto-group. Within the group of mercapto-compounds, mercaptocarboxyiic acids represented by the general formula HS-R1-COOR, wherein R1 stands for a divalent hydrocarbon group with 1-10 carbon atoms and R stands for a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, ammonium, or a linear or branched alkylgroup having 1 to 10 -carbon atoms. Examples include mercaptoacetic acid (HS-CH2-COOH), beta-mercaptop oprionic acid (HS- CH2CH2-COOH), methylmercaptoacetate (HS-CH2-COOCH3), ethyl 2- mercaptoacetate (HS-CH2-COOC2H5), ethylhexyl mercaptoacetate (HS-CH2- COOC8H17), and methyl 3-mercaptoproprionate ((HS-CH2CH2-COOCH3). Further compounds preferred within the group of mercapto-compounds include aminosubstituted mercaptanes represented by the general formula H2N-R2-SH, wherein R2 stands for a divalent hydrocarbon group having 1-15 carbon atoms. Examples of these compounds include 2-amino ethanethiol (H2N-CH2CH2- SH), and 4-amino thiophenol (H2N-C6H4-SH). Additional compounds within the group of mercapto-compounds are the di- mercaptanes represented by the general formula HS-R3-SH, wherein R3 stands for a divalent hydrocarbon group having 1-15 carbon atoms. Examples of these compounds include ethanedithiol (HS-CH2CH2-SH) and 1 ,4- butanedithiol (HS-(CH2)4-SH). Preferred compounds also include thioacids of the formula R4-COSH, wherein R4 stands for a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1-15 carbon atoms. Examples of these compounds include thioacetic acid (CH3-COSH) and thiobenzoic acid (C6H5COSH). Dithioacids of the formula HSOC-R5-COSH, wherein R5 is a divalent hydrocarbon group with 1-15 carbon atoms may also be suitable. An example is dithioadipic acid (HSOC-C4H10-COSH). Preferred compounds also include mercaptoalcohols of the general formula R6S-R5-(OH)n, wherein R5 represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 15 carbon atoms or a phenyl group, R6 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 or 2 carbon atoms, and n is 1 or 2. Examples of these compounds include 2-mercaptoethanol, 2-(methylthio)ethanol, 2- (ethylthio)ethanol, 3-mercapto-2-butanol, 4-mercaptophenol, 2- (methylthio)phenol, 4-(methylthio)phenol, 2-(ethylthio)phenol, 3-mercapto-1 ,2,- propanediol, 3-methylthio-1 ,2, propanediol, and 3-ethylthio-1 ,2, propanediol. Other suitable compounds include sulphoxides of the formula R7-SO-R8, wherein R7 and R8 are hydrocarbon groups with 1-5 carbon atoms. An example is dimethyl sulfoxide (CH3-SO-CH3). Ammonium thiocyanate and thiourea may also be useful compounds, as may be the various dithiocarbamic acids and the salts thereof, such as ethylene bisdithiocarbamic acid and its salts, and dimethyl dithiocarbamic acid and its salts. Other suitable compounds include mercaptodiathiazoles and their salts, such as 2,5-dimercapto-1 ,3,4,-diathiazoles and its salts. Other compounds which may be useful are polysulphides of the formula R9-Sx- R10, wherein x is a value of 1-15 and R9 and R10 are alkyl groups, preferably branched alkyl groups, with 1-30 carbon atoms. Related compounds are those with the formula HO-R11-Sx-R12-OH, wherein x is a value of 1-15 and R11 and R12 are alkyl groups with 1-8 carbon atoms. At this point in time the mercapto-compounds, in particular the mercaptocarboxyiic acids are considered preferred for reasons of catalyst activity. Other compounds, in particularly those which are soluble in or miscible with water may be preferred for environmental reasons (less smell and no organic solvent being necessary). A single compound as well as a combination of compounds may be used as additive. The amount of additive present in the additive-containing catalyst depends on the specific situation. It was found that the appropriate amount of additive generally lies in the range of 0.01-2.5 moles of additive per mole of hydrogenation metals present in the catalyst. If the amount of additive added is too low, the advantageous effect associated with its presence will not be obtained. On the other hand, the presence of an exceptionally large amount of additive will not improve its effect. Generally it is intended that the amount of sulphur incorporated into the catalyst by way of the additive is selected to correspond to 5-200%, preferably 50-200%, more preferably 80-150%, of the stoichiometric sulphur quantity necessary to convert the hydrogenation metals into Co 9 S 8 , MoS 2 , WS 2 , and Ni 3 S 2 , respectively. The way in which the additive is incorporated into the catalyst composition is not critical to the process according to the invention. The additive may be incorporated into the catalyst composition prior to, subsequent to, or simultaneously with the incorporation of the hydrogenation metal components. For example, the additive can be incorporated into the catalyst composition prior to the hydrogenation metal components by being added to the carrier before the hydrogenation metal components are. This can be done by mixing the additive with the carrier material before it is shaped, or by impregnating the shaped carrier material with the additive. This embodiment is not preferred at this point in time. Alternatively, the additive can be incorporated into the catalyst composition simultaneously with the hydrogenation metal components. This can be done, e.g., by mixing the additive and the hydrogenation metal components with the carrier material before shaping or by impregnating the carrier with an impregnation solution comprising the hydrogenation metal components and the additive, followed by drying under such conditions that at least part of the additive is maintained in the catalyst. It is also possible to incorporate the additive into the catalyst composition subsequent to the hydrogenation metal components. This can be done, e.g., by first incorporating the hydrogenation metal components into the catalyst composition, e.g., by mixing them with the carrier material or by impregnating the carrier with them, optionally followed by drying and/or calcining, and subsequently incorporating the additive, e.g., by impregnation, optionally followed by drying under such conditions that at least part of the additive is maintained in the catalyst. Depending on the nature of the additive and the way in which it is incorporated into the catalyst composition, the additive may be used in solid form, in liquid form, or dissolved in a suitable solvent. It may be preferred for the additive to be incorporated into the catalyst dissolved in water. Use of the activated catalyst prepared according to the invention The catalyst activated by the process according to the invention can be used in the hydrotreating of hydrocarbon feeds. The. hydrotreating generally takes place under conventional hydrotreating conditions, such as temperatures in the range of 250-450°C, pressures in the range of 5-250 bar, space velocities in the range of 0,1-10 h "1 , and H 2 /oil ratios in the range of 50-2000 Nl/I. Examples of suitable feeds include middle distillates, kerosine, naphtha, vacuum gas oils, heavy gas oils and residues. Preferably, the hydrocarbon feed contains at least 0.2 wt% of sulphur, calculated as atomic sulphur S. Examples of suitable hydrotreating reactions are (deep) hydrodesulphurisation, hydrodenitrogenation, hydrodearomatisation, and hydrodemetallisation. (Deep) hydrodesulphurisation, hydrodenitrogenation, and hydrodearomatisation are preferred. Example 1 Starting material A conventional hydrotreating catalyst containing 24 wt.% molybdenum, calculated as trioxide, 4 wt.% nickel, calculated as oxide, and 7 wt.% phosphorus, calculated as P 2 O 5 , on a gamma-alumina carrier was impregnated by pore volume impregnation with a solution of HS-CH 2 -COOH in water, containing 1 mole HS-CH 2 -COOH per mole of the total of molybdenum and nickel. Then, the catalyst is dried rotating in hot air to a product temperature of about 100°C. Comparative activation procedure The additive-containing starting catalyst catalyst (10 ml) was activated at atmospheric pressure with H 2 (flow = 5 l/hr). The temperature was increased by 0.5°C per minute to 300°C and held at that temperature for 3 hours. Activation procedure according to the invention The additive-containing starting catalyst was pore volume impregnated with SRGO (straight run gas oil) in an amount corresponding to 0.046 g SRGO per gram catalyst. This additive-containing SRGO-impregnated Ni-Mo-P/γ-AI 2 O 3 catalyst (10 ml) was activated in the same way as described above. Testing The catalysts were tested in an upflow tubular reactor using a SRGO with the properties given in table 1. The reaction conditions are given in table 2. Table 1 feedstock properties Table 2 Reaction conditions The oil product from the reactor was analysed, and the relative volume activities of the catalysts for hydrodesulphurisation, hydrodenitrogenation, and hydrodearomatisation were calculated, with the activity of the starting material activated using the comparative activation procedure being set at 100 The results are given in Table 3 below Table 3 test results This shows that the activation procedure according to the invention, which includes a catalyst prewetting step, shows an improved activity as compared to the comparative activation procedure.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A process for activating a catalyst composition comprising at least one hydrogenation metal component of Group VI and/or Group VIII of the Periodic Table, and an S-containing organic additive, wherein the catalyst is contacted with hydrogen at a temperature between room temperature and 600°C, characterised in that prior to or during the contacting with hydrogen the catalyst is contacted with an organic liquid. 2. The process of claim 1 wherein the contacting with the organic liquid takes place prior to the contacting with hydrogen. 3. The process of either of the preceding claims wherein the organic liquid is a hydrocarbon with a boiling range of 150-500°C, preferably white oil, gasoline, diesel, gas oil, or mineral lube oil. 4. The process of any one of the preceding claims wherein the contacting of the catalyst with hydrogen takes place at a temperature of 100-450°C. 5. The process of any one of the preceding claims wherein the S-containing organic additive is an organic compound comprising a mercapto-group. 6. The process of claim 5 wherein the S-containing organic additive is a mercapto acid represented by the general formula HS-R1-COOR, wherein R1 stands for a divalent hydrocarbon group with 1-10 carbon atoms and R stands for a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, ammonium, or a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms. 7. The process according to any one of the preceding claims wherein both the contacting with the organic liquid and the contacting with hydrogen and a sulphur-containing compound are carried out ex situ. 8. The process according to claim 6 wherein the catalyst is passivated after the ex situ hydrogen treatment. 9. The catalyst obtainable by the process of any of the preceding claims 1- 8. 10. Use of the catalyst obtainable by the process of any of the preceding claims 1-8 in the hydrotreating of hydrocarbon feeds.

Inventors: EIJSBOUTS SONJA, EIJSBOUTS, SONJA
Applicants: AKZO NOBEL NV, AKZO NOBEL N.V.
Application year: 2001
Main classification: B01J37
IPC codes: B01J23, B01J37, C10G45