Lianhui Ding

Title : Effect of mesoporosity and acidity on crude oil direct hydrocracking

Abstract:

In this study, various hydrocracking catalysts were synthesized using modified zeolite Y with different levels of mesoporosity and acidity to investigate their effects on crude oil hydroconversion. The zeolites and catalysts were characterized with N2-adsorption, XRD, and NH3-TPD techniques. Their hydrocracking performance was evaluated using crude oil under commercial operating conditions in a pilot plant unit. The results indicate that catalysts featuring high acidity, strong acid sites, and increased mesoporisity enhance crude conversion and middle distillate yields.  This improvement is primarily due to better accessibility to active sites and more efficient transport of bulky molecules in mesopores compared to micropores. Additionally, an optimized distribution of zeolitic acidity also contributes to the performance enhancement.

Audience Takeaway Notes:

• The main findings can help to develop heavy oil hydrocracking catalysts which is core technologies in petroleum refining and chemicals production.
• The research can be taken as a good example that how mass transfer and acidity can affect the real chemical reactions, and how to balance the two factors.

Biography:

Dr. Ding joined Saudi Aramco in 2012. Before that, he worked in SINOPEC R&D Center in China for 12 years followed by working in the National Center of Upgrading Technology in Canada for 3 years, and worked in ConocoPhillips R&D Center for 3 years. He has about 30 years experience in the field of zeolite and catalysis. Dr. Ding focuses on hydroprocessing and hydrocracking catalyst and process development, and has extensive experiences in zeolite and catalyst development, commercial manufacture and refinery application.