The influence of the content of rare earth elements (REE) on the thermal stability and catalytic properties of HREEY zeolites embedded in catalyst matrices that consist of bentonite clay, amorphous silica-alumina, and aluminum hydroxide is studied. It is found that an increase in the REE content from 0,0 to 6,5 wt.% increases the thermal stability of the zeolite by about 100 °C. It is shown that the increase in the REE content from 0 to 2 wt.% raises the conversion of vacuum gas oil by 8 wt.%. The acceptable level of conversion (77–78 %) of raw materials can be achieved with the content of REE of about 0,5 wt.%. The dependence of hydrogen transfer reactions on the content of REE in the cracking catalysts is exemplified by changes in the amount of isobutane in produced C4-hydrocarbons. On the basis of laboratory data, a technology for production of bizeolite cracking catalysts with a low content of REE
(grades M, H) has been developed and implemented at JSC «Gazprom Neft–Omsk Refinery».

A complex for the production of microspheric cracking catalysts was launched at Ishimbay Specialized Chemical Plant of Catalysts in 2008. In 2012, the company won a major tender for the supply of a catalyst «Oktifayn» to unit G-43-107 of the Ufa Oil Refinery. The paper analyzes results of the pilot operation of the catalyst at this unit. The high efficiency of the catalyst and the benefits of its wider use are shown.

Production of new granular cracking catalysts, branded «Adamant», was launched at Sterlitamak Catalyst Plant and Ishimbay Specialized Chemical Plant of Catalysts in 2012-2013. The paper discusses in detail advantages of these catalysts and technological aspects of their production.

The paper analyzes published and author’s original data on the current state of the reforming process and catalysts. Data on the influence of operation conditions and chemical composition of the feedstock on the basic parameters of the process and resulting reformate are summarized. Reforming technologies are classified on the basis of the method of catalyst regeneration. The distinctions of technologies with fixed and fluidized catalysts, as well as their advantages and disadvantages, are shown. On the basis of literature data and the author’s experience, the main trends in technology development and modernization of industrial plants are compiled. Particular attention is paid to improving the quality of high-octane gasolines and to their compliance with existing standards and technical requirements. The technical level of modern reforming catalysts is evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively.

The paper analyzes current experience in industrial operation of chlorinated, zeolite, and sulfated oxide catalysts at isomerization plants in Russia. Implementation of the isomerization process in Russia began in the late 90s. The first plants were put into operation on zeolite catalysts; however, the further development of the isomerization process occurred in two ways: using chlorinated or sulfated oxide catalysts. The advantages and disadvantages of chlorinated catalysts are illustrated in the paper by examples from industrial practice. The latter include high sensitivity to water and sulfur-containing compounds in the feedstock and side reactions that contribute to the formation of low octane products in schemes with a recycle of C6. The use of sulfated oxide systems eliminates these drawbacks, which is confirmed by the experience in industrial operation of a sulfated catalyst SI-2 at domestic and foreign plants.

The paper is devoted to the development of zeolite catalysts for the isomerization of pentane-hexane fractions and hydrodewaxing of oil fractions at JSC «Angarsk Plant of Catalysts and Organic Synthesis» (JSC «APC&OS»). The catalysts for isomerization and hydrodewaxing were prepared from mordenite-type zeolites and from ZSM-5, respectively. Zeolites and catalysts on their basis were examined by scanning electron and atomic force microscopies. The catalysts were tested in flow-circulation and flow-type fixed bed reactors. It was shown that the developed catalysts exceed their industrial analogues in the activity and selectivity.

In this work, supported Pt/SZ/Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by thermolysis of zirconium sulfate in pores of the support. The content  of the active component (sulfated zirconia) in the catalyst is 25–30 wt.%, which is 2,0–2,5 times lower than that in the bulk catalysts with equivalent catalytic characteristics. The catalysts were tested in the isomerization of n-hexane. It was shown that at temperatures 140–160 °C, supported catalysts provide a sum output of 2,2- and 2,3-dimethylbutanes of 34–36 wt.% with the yield of stable catalyzate C5+ at 96–98 wt.%, which is comparable with the results obtained using analogous industrial isomerization catalysts based on sulfated zirconia. These results indicate that the deposited Pt/SZ/Al2O3 catalysts may be used for the isomerization of C5-C6 fractions to produce high-octane components of ecologically clean gasolines.

The paper presents results of a 15-year research conducted in the Samara State Technical University on the development of highly active sulfide catalysts for hydrotreating of straight-run and refractory lowgrade fractions of petroleum using heteropoly compounds (HPC) of Mo and W types as precursors. A wide range of HPCs with the Keggin and Anderson structures were used in the synthesis of sulfide catalysts. The activities of heteroelements in the hydrodesulfurization of sulfur compounds and in the hydrogenation of unsaturated hydrocarbons were arranged in series. Correlations of catalytic activity with electronegativity of the heteroatom of the HPC were found. Particular attention was paid to the regulation of catalyst selectivities toward parallel reactions of hydrogenation and hydrodesulfurization. A wide range of highly active sulfide catalysts was designed for hydrotreating of diesel fuel, cat-cracked gasoline, vacuum gas oil, and lube stock. The technologies of their synthesis and activation (sulfidation) were developed. The catalysts have been patented and are at a high degree of readiness for the implementation in refining industry.

A new CoNiMo/Al2O3 catalyst was developed for deep hydrotreating of vacuum gas oil (VGO) intended as a catalytic cracking feedstock containing 200–500 ppm of sulfur. A method of preparing the catalyst comprises the following steps: preparation of a support with desired textural, strength and granulometric characteristics; synthesis in a solution of bimetallic (Co-Mo and Ni-Mo) complex compounds; their application and drying. Physicochemical (texture, morphology, structure of the active phase) and catalytic characteristics of the new catalyst were compared with those of modern domestic and imported industrial analogues. It was shown that the catalyst allows the hydrotreating
at a temperature 5–20 °C below and with yields of the desired fraction 4–13 % higher than do all the samples tested. The high activity of the catalyst is due to the formation of monolayer particles of a trimetallic Co(Ni)MoS phase during the catalyst sulfidation. Technology of the catalyst synthesis is prepared for industrial implementation («NPK Syntez», Barnaul, 1000 tons/year), and the basic technological regimes of the hydrotreating of VGO with the use of the new catalyst are developed.

A new method of hydrocracking of vacuum gas oil was suggested. The method consists in using three-layer stacks of catalysts in which the top layer is a NiMo/Al2O3 catalyst, the middle layer is NiM/ААS-Al2O3 and the lowest layer is NiM/Y-Al2O3 (where M is molybdenum or tungsten, ААS-Al2O3 is a support containing 70 % of amorphous aluminosilicate (AAS) and 30 % of aluminum oxide, and Y-Al2O3 is a support containing 30 % of zeolite Y and 70 % of alumina). The acidic properties of the catalysts were studied by IR spectroscopy of adsorbed CO. The morphology of sulfide particles on the catalyst surface was studied by transmission electron microscopy. Textural characteristics of the supports and catalysts were studied by nitrogen porosimetry. The stacks containing catalysts NiMo and NiW in various combinations were tested in hydrocracking of vacuum gas oil. It was shown that a replacement of NiMo/ААS-Al2O3 onto NiW/AAS-Al2O3 in stacks containing only NiMo catalysts leads to a significant increase in the yield of the diesel fraction.

In recent years, researches on the synthesis and application of nanoscale catalysts of hydroconversion were intensified. In this paper, formation of the dispersed phase of oxides of Mo, Al, Fe, Co, Ni with the particle size of 100–1000 nm is studied. The oxides were prepared at 200–250 °C by thermal decomposition of reverse microemulsions (ME) based on synthetic surfactants and pentadecane with the metal content below 0,05 wt.%. Native petroleum stabilizers of the hydrocarbon phase of ME (asphaltenes, components of light gas oil and tar) contribute to reducing the size of synthesized particles to 127–200 nm and to increasing the metal content in the stable suspension to 2 wt.%. Nanoscale catalysts (MoS2 with a particle size of 10–50 nm and combined systems containing Al, Mo, Co(Ni)) were synthesized in situ under conditions of the hydroconversion of tar performed by the method of reverse emulsions. The catalysts exhibited high activity in inhibiting the polymerization of high-molecular components of raw materials.

The paper is devoted to collaboration between IHP SB RAS and JSC
«Gazprom Neft–Omsk Refinery» in designing of new cracking catalysts and additives to them. The catalysts were designed to increase the production of C3-C4 olefins, to reduce the content of sulfur compounds in the gasoline-product, and to ensure the afterburning of CO during the catalyst regeneration. The new bizeolite cracking catalysts provide the yield of C3-C4 olefins of at least 30 wt.% and allow a wide variation of compositions and yields of desired products. The addition of mixed oxides or modified zeolites Y and/or ZSM-5 to the cracking catalysts can reduce the content of sulfur compounds in gasoline by 35 % (compared with an equilibrium catalyst). For efficient afterburning of CO, an additive based on manganese oxide was proposed. A pilot batch of the additive was produced and industrially tested at JSC «Gazprom Neft–Omsk Refinery». It was shown that to provide the residual content of CO below 20 ppm, this additive is required in amount by 20 % higher than a platinum-containing additive. Developed catalysts and additives to them can be produced at JSC «Gazprom Neft-Omsk Refinery».

The paper discusses problems arising in the laboratory testing of granular catalysts for hydrotreating of petroleum fractions. Requirements for laboratory equipment are formulated that would ensure high reliability of forecasting the parameters of hydrotreating of diesel fractions in industrial reactors. It is shown that the dilution of catalyst pellets with fine particles of an inert nonporous material (silicon carbide) provides reproducible results in small three-phase reactors, while minimizing such effects as incomplete wetting of the catalyst, the wall surface effect, and the back mixing of liquid. The paper presents a description of the laboratory facilities and methods of analysis. Experimental results obtained in the deep hydrotreating of diesel fractions are compared for different laboratory facilities.