Hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis/ring-opening of naphthalene on Pd/Pt supported on zirconium-doped mesoporous silica catalysts

Pd/Pt (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 wt%) supported on mesoporous Si/Zr MCM-41-type catalysts have been investigated in the hydrogenation of naphthalene under pressure, chosen as the probe reaction for the hydrotreating of light cycle oil fractions, in order to optimize the amount of active phase. On increasing the percentage of Pd/Pt, the productivity in decalins increased, while those in hydrogenolysis/ring-opening and cracking compounds showed an opposite trend. The sample with 1 wt% of Pd/Pt may be considered the best choice, considering both hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis/ring-opening activity. Finally, adding increasing amounts of dibenzothiophene in the feed caused a decrease in the activity, although this deactivation was largely reversible.