Hydrogen spillover effects on Pt–Rh modified Co–clay catalysts for heavy oil upgrading Original Research Article

Hydrogen spillover effects on noble metal-promoted Co/HPS (high porous saponite) catalysts have been investigated by temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) studies and batch autoclave reactor trials. Pt and Rh noble metals were used to introduce hydrogen spillover on Co/HPS. TPR studies showed that Pt–Rh combination has more significant effects on the reducibility of Co species on HPS catalysts than the unpromoted and single noble metal (Pt, Rh individually)-promoted catalysts. The Pt–Rh combination shifts the TPR peaks to lower temperatures. Two Pt–Rh-promoted catalysts were evaluated in batch autoclave reactor (at 400 °C and 140 kg/cm2) using vacuum gas oil (VGO) as the feedstock. Pt–Rh-promoted catalysts showed higher activity for both hydrocracking and hydrodesulfurization of the heavy feed than the unpromoted Co/HPS catalyst.