A novel fast evaluation method for mesoporous NiMo/Al2O3 hydrodemetallization (HDM) catalysts: activity and metal uptake capacity measurements

In this investigation, a test procedure is proposed to evaluate the activity and metal uptake capacity of hydrodemetallization (HDM) catalyst in a micro-reactor over a certain period of time instead of longtime normal pilot tests. Catalysts with different specifications were evaluated using this method. The initial activities and reaction rates, metal uptake capacity, deposition profile, distribution factor, effective diffusivity and deactivation rate of the catalysts were examined. Catalyst activity measurements estimated that the metal uptake capacity of catalyst B (as a well-structured HDM catalyst) to be 0.31 g/g in comparison to 0.09 g/g for catalyst A. These results could help distinguish the durable high performance hydrodemetallization catalysts by providing deeper insight into the structure and nature of contaminant metal species deposited on the catalysts.