Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of Ni–Mo/Zr–Al2O3 catalyst for hydro-conversion of lignite-based heavy carbon resources

NaOH depolymerized products (SDP) of Shengli lignite was used as lignite-based heavy carbon resources in this study. Hydrotreatment of SDP over Ni–Mo/Al2O3 and Ni–Mo/Zr–Al2O3 catalysts was investigated. It was found that the incorporation of Zr to Ni–Mo/Al2O3 catalyst results in the easy reduction of metal oxides and the increase of the stacking degree and length of MoS2 slabs. Both of Ni–Mo/Al2O3 and Ni–Mo/Zr–Al2O3 catalysts show better performance for hydrogenation of SDP and can be used repeatedly. The incorporation of Zr to Ni–Mo/Al2O3 catalyst significantly inhibits the formation of tetrahydrofuran insolubles (THFI), promotes the formation of two-ring aromatics and increases HS yield compared to that over Ni–Mo/Al2O3 catalyst.