The Production of Liquid Fuel Products by the Catalytic Hydroliquefaction of Sapropels Using Nickel and Nickel-Tungsten Catalysts

Abstract

Ni catalysts with the carbon-mineral supports obtained from sapropel were synthesized and studied in the catalytic hydroliquefaction of sapropel. It was found that catalysts with the supports obtained from mineral sapropel are more active as compared to those based on organic sapropel; therewith, bimetallic NiW catalysts showed a higher activity than monometallic nickel, irrespective of the support nature. The conversion of the organic matter of sapropel and the composition of liquid products are affected by both the features of supported metal and the composition of support. The liquid products of hydroliquefaction contain mostly the nitrogen- and oxygen-containing compounds. The maximum yield of С5-С21 hydrocarbons is achieved for the catalysts with the supports obtained from mineral sapropel. The composition of the liquid products of sapropel hydroliquefaction is similar to that of biofuels obtained from other renewable sources; such products can be introduced in the known schemes of further processing.