Reaction network of indole hydrodenitrogenation over NiMoS/γ-Al2O3 catalysts Original Research Article

The reaction network of indole hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) was investigated over γ-Al2O3 supported NiMo sulfide catalysts in an effort to acquire a fundamental understanding of the different reaction pathways in the mechanism. Experiments were performed primarily at 1000 psig, using a wide range of temperatures and feed concentrations. The effect of H2S on different reaction steps of the network was also investigated. Two major pathways were proposed to account for the formation of ethylcyclohexane (ECH) and ethylbenzene (EB) which are the two main HDN products from indole. One route occurs from the hydrogenolysis of indoline to o-ethylaniline (OEA) and the other from the hydrogenation of indoline to octahydro-indole. Also included in the proposed mechanism is a secondary route from o-ethylcyclohexylamine (OECHA) to ethylcyclohexene (ECHE), that occurs through a nucleophilic substitution reaction. The product distribution was a strong function of temperature and H2S concentration. H2S enhanced the hydrogenolysis reactions but inhibited the hydrogenation reactions.