Catalytic hydrorefining of tar to liquid fuel over multi-metals (W-Mo-Ni) catalysts

In the perspective of fossil fuel depletion, the importance of renewable and substitute fuels is remarkable. In this study, clean liquid-fuel was obtained from tar through catalytic hydrorefining method. Hydrorefining catalysts were prepared by impregnation, containing tungsten-nickel (W-Ni), molybdenum-nickel (Mo-Ni), tungsten-molybdenum-nickel (W-Mo-Ni), and tungsten-molybdenum-cobalt (W-Mo-Co). gamma-alumina was used as catalysts supporter. The clean liquid fuel product was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, elemental analyzer, octane number for gasoline fraction and cetane-number for diesel fraction, and Engler distillation range. The rules of sulfur and nitrogen content were also investigated. The overall product yield was up to 97%, and the sulfur and nitrogen content was less than 70 ppm. The W-Mo-Ni/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst showed high performance in catalytic hydrofinishing and good stabilization under required conditions. (C) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.