Characterization and deactivation studies of an activated sulfided red mud used as hydrogenation catalyst Original Research Article

Red mud is a residue in the production of alumina by the Bayer process that contains oxides of Fe and Ti, active as hydrogenation catalyst in sulfided form, and whose catalytic activity can be improved by the activation method proposed by Pratt and Christoverson. The development of its activity and selectivity with reaction time was studied for the hydrogenation of a light fraction of an anthracene oil, and compared with untreated sulfided red mud. Catalyst samples were collected at different reaction times, and their texture, morphology and composition characterized by nitrogen adsorption, SEM and SEM–EDX. The loss of catalytic activity of activated sulfided red mud is slower than for untreated sulfided red mud. The main cause of this decrease in catalytic activity is the loss of surface area and superficial Fe.