Enhancing the start-up of pyrolysis gasoline hydrogenation reactors by applying tailored ex situ presulfided Ni/Al2O3 catalysts

Convenient and safe start-up procedures were assessed for Al2O3-supported nickel catalysts used in pyrolysis gasoline hydrogenation. A model feed was used consisting of styrene, 1,3-pentadiene and 1-octene. The Ni surface of the catalysts is partially sulfided ex situ to various degrees of sulfur loading. Temperature Programmed Reduction showed that the ex situ presulfided oxidic catalysts can be activated by reduction at temperatures lower than the non-sulfided oxidic catalyst (ΔT=150 K). This was confirmed under reaction conditions. This characteristic allows elimination of the presently applied time- and chemicals-consuming intermediate reduction and passivation procedure, resulting in more efficient catalyst activation procedures.