Enhanced catalytic activity of Ni-Re/H- AlMCM-41 catalyst via surface modification for hydrodenitrogenation of o-toluidine

This paper reports the enhanced catalytic activity of Ni-Re/H-AlMCM-41 catalyst for hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) of o-toluidine. The mesoporous H-AlMCM-41(Si/Al = 100) support was synthesized by hydrothermal method. The synthesized mesoporous H-AlMCM-41 (Si/Al = 100) was impregnated with xNi-5 wt%Re (x = 0, 1 and 3 wt%) by wetness impregnation method. The support and catalyst were characterized by XRD, N₂-sorption studies, DRS UV–Vis., HRTEM and TPD-NH₃. The catalytic activities of synthesized catalysts were tested for HDN reaction of o-toluidine. The oxide catalysts were pre sulfided at 673 K for 3 h using a ditertiary butyl polysulfide (DBPS) as sulfiding agent. The results of this study shown that 1 wt%Ni-5 wt%Re/H-AlMCM-41 catalyst exhibits higher HDN activity. The higher HDN activity associated with total number of sulfur species present in the sulfided catalyst. The results on characterization and catalytic activity have been correlated and discussed in detail. (paper)