Catalyst development for hydrogenation at low temperature, pressure, and hydrocarbon space velocity

Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) is one of the in-situ recovery technologies currently applied in Canada. Given the input energy provided by SAGD-like processes, one in-situ upgrading approach is to take advantage of the sub-surface energy to promote hydrogenation (HYD) reactions, under SAGD pressure and temperature conditions, as a first step for upgrading.;The practicality of the new Mo-carbide synthesis developed along with the activity and sulphur tolerance evidenced point towards a high potential application for in-situ upgrading.;Molybdenum carbide (Mo2C) has been found able to promote hydrogenation at temperatures lower than 300°C. This work pioneers in the development of a Mo2 C-like catalyst prepared with a novel methodology. The hydrogenation activity of this catalyst was tested with toluene at temperatures within 150--325°C at 400 psi of H2, reaching 98% HYD at 200°C. The kinetic study in this thesis reveals its noble metal catalytic behaviour. The hydrodesulphurization (HDS) capability was also evaluated with a thiophene/toluene (1/99% wt/wt) solution at 200°C and 400 psi, reaching 100% HDS and no toluene HYD. At higher thiophene concentrations (3 wt %), HDS was about 54%. No catalyst deactivation was observed.