Reaction Mechanism for Hydrocarbon Cracking Using Metal Nanoparticles
摘要
Results are given for a study of physicochemical aspects of the catalytic degradation of heavy oil hydrocarbons and oil residues in the presence of ultradispersed (nano-sized) metal-containing catalysts formed in situ upon the thermal decomposition of organometallic precursors. A mechanism involving deprotonation, protonation, and radical-ion reactions is proposed based on the results of thermodynamic calculations, quantum-chemical DFT modeling, and analysis of the experimental data. The active sites were shown to be nanoparticles of nickel, nickel oxide, and metal sulfides as well as the surfaces of their oxide and sulfide forms. Evidence was found for the role of nanostructured catalysts in initiating ionic reactions and lowering the temperature for hydrocarbon degradation.