Novel catalysts comprising nickel oxide nanoparticles supported on alumina nanoparticles, methods of their manufacture, heavy oil compositions contacted by these nanocatalysts and methods of their use are disclosed. The novel nanocatalysts are useful, inter alia, in the upgrading of heavy oil fractions or as aids in oil recovery from well reservoirs or downstream processing.

Novel catalysts comprising nickel oxide nanoparticles supported on alumina nanoparticles, methods of their manufacture, heavy oil compositions contacted by these nanocatalysts and methods of their use are disclosed. The novel nanocatalysts are useful, inter alia, in the upgrading of heavy oil fractions or as aids in oil recovery from well reservoirs or downstream processing.

The specification discloses a highly macroporous catalyst for hydroprocessing and hydroconversion of heavy hydrocarbon feedstocks. The high macroporosity catalyst incudes an inorganic oxide, molybdenum, and nickel components. It has a pore structure such that at least 18% of its total pore volume is in pores of a diameter greater than 5,000 angstroms and at least 25% of its total pore volume is in pores of a diameter greater than 1,000 angstroms. Preferably, the pore structure is bimodal. The catalyst is made by co-mulling the catalytic components with a high molecular weight polyacrylamide followed by forming the co-mulled mixture into a particle or an extrudate. The particle or extrudate is dried and calcined under controlled calcination temperature conditions to yield a calcined particle or extrudate of the high macroporosity catalyst composition.

A suspended-bed hydrogenation catalyst and a regeneration method are disclosed. A composite support comprises a semi-coke pore-expanding material, a molecular sieve and a spent catalytic cracking catalyst. The hydrogenation catalyst for heavy oil is obtained through mixing the semi-coke pore-expanding material, the molecular sieve and the spent catalytic cracking catalyst, followed by molding, calcining and activating, and then loading an active metal oxide to the composite support. According to the composite support, a macropore, mesopore and micropore uniformly-distributed structure is formed, so that full contact between all ingredients in the heavy oil and active ingredients in a hydrogenation process is facilitated, and the conversion ratio of the heavy oil is increased. The hydrogenation catalyst integrates adsorption, cracking and hydrogenation properties. According to a regeneration method, the loading performance of an active-metal-loaded support in a spent hydrogenation catalyst cannot be destroyed.

A suspended-bed hydrogenation catalyst and a regeneration method are disclosed. A composite support comprises a semi-coke pore-expanding material, a molecular sieve and a spent catalytic cracking catalyst. The hydrogenation catalyst for heavy oil is obtained through mixing the semi-coke pore-expanding material, the molecular sieve and the spent catalytic cracking catalyst, followed by molding, calcining and activating, and then loading an active metal oxide to the composite support. According to the composite support, a macropore, mesopore and micropore uniformly-distributed structure is formed, so that full contact between all ingredients in the heavy oil and active ingredients in a hydrogenation process is facilitated, and the conversion ratio of the heavy oil is increased. The hydrogenation catalyst integrates adsorption, cracking and hydrogenation properties. According to a regeneration method, the loading performance of an active-metal-loaded support in a spent hydrogenation catalyst cannot be destroyed.

A highly active trimetallic mixed transition metal oxide material has been developed. The material may be sulfided to generate metal sulfides which are used as a catalyst in a conversion process such as hydroprocessing. The hydroprocessing may include hydrodenitrification, hydrodesulfurization, hydrodemetallation, hydrodesilication, hydrodearomatization, hydroisomerization, hydrotreating, hydrofining, and hydrocracking.

A highly active trimetallic mixed transition metal oxide material has been developed. The material may be sulfided to generate metal sulfides which are used as a catalyst in a conversion process such as hydroprocessing. The hydroprocessing may include hydrodenitrification, hydrodesulfurization, hydrodemetallation, hydrodesilication, hydrodearomatization, hydroisomerization, hydrotreating, hydrofining, and hydrocracking.

A catalyst preparation unit for producing an activated hydrocarbon-catalyst mixture. The catalyst preparation unit includes one or more catalyst reactant input conduits; a hydrocarbon input conduit; a water input conduit; one or more catalyst reactant mixing and conveyance systems for receiving and mixing catalyst reactants from the catalyst component input conduits and water provided by the water input conduit to provide one or more catalyst reactant solutions; one or more hydrocarbon mixing and conveyance systems for receiving and mixing the catalyst reactant solutions and hydrocarbons provided by the hydrocarbon input conduit to produce a hydrocarbon-catalyst reactant mixture; at least one reactor located downstream of the mixers, for receiving and activating the hydrocarbon-catalyst reactant mixture, thereby producing the activated hydrocarbon catalyst mixture; a gas/liquid separator located downstream of the reactor, for removing vapors and gas from the activated hydrocarbon-catalyst mixture; and an output conduit for transporting the activated hydrocarbon-catalyst mixture away from the catalyst preparation unit.

A hydroprocessing catalyst has been developed. The catalyst is a unique crystalline transition metal oxy-hydroxide molybdate material. The hydroprocessing using the crystalline ammonia transition metal oxy-hydroxide molybdate material may include hydrodenitrification, hydrodesulfurization, hydrodemetallation, hydrodesilication, hydrodearomatization, hydroisomerization, hydrotreating, hydrofining, and hydrocracking.

A hydroprocessing catalyst has been developed. The catalyst is a unique crystalline transition metal oxy-hydroxide molybdate material. The hydroprocessing using the crystalline ammonia transition metal oxy-hydroxide molybdate material may include hydrodenitrification, hydrodesulfurization, hydrodemetallation, hydrodesilication, hydrodearomatization, hydroisomerization, hydrotreating, hydrofining, and hydrocracking.