Abstract
beta -zeolite and USY-zeolite were used to prepare two separate series of zeolite-based hydrocracking catalysts. Nickel and tungsten were added using incipient wetness impregnation method on alumina CP 100, and then mixed with beta -zeolite to form first series of the catalysts. The difference in the mode of addition of the metal pair resulted in a variety of catalysts that encompassed several possible permutations. In the second series of the catalysts, Ni and W were simultaneously loaded on extrudates made from a mixture of USY zeolite and alumina AP-1. The prepared catalysts were characterized for their surface area, pore volume, reducibility and acidity characteristics. The objective of this study was to investigate the differences in the properties and cracking activity of beta -zeolite and USY-zeolite based catalysts. The hydrocracking activity of all the prepared catalysts was measured using hydrotreated vacuum gas oil (HT-VGO) as feed in a batch autoclave reactor. Hydrocracking activity of one of the catalysts containing beta -zeolite was in comparison to a commercial hydrocracking catalyst. Catalysts from both series showed promising results for HT-VGO hydrocracking in the batch reactor.