Catalysts of heteroatom elimination in the refining of hydrocarbon feeds

Heteroatoms N, O, S, or Cl bound in hydrocarbons represent a barrier in the chemical processing of fossil and renewable feeds, because they are a source of corrosion in chemical equipment, catalytic poisons, harm the environment or deteriorate the energy value of hydrocarbons. These heteroatoms are therefore removed by decomposition reactions to form hydrogenated heteroatoms and pure hydrocarbons. Some decompositions are accompanied by C-C condensation reactions (Guerbet coupling, aldol condensation). The study will cover the synthesis of new heterogeneous catalysts including the evaluation of their activity and selectivity in model reactions performed in laboratory tubular flow microreactors. Gas and liquid chromatography (GC/FID/MSD/SCD, LC/qTOF) creates the chemical-analytical background for the reaction progress kinetic analysis (RPKA). Microstructural characterization of the prepared catalysts will comprise N₂/Ar physisorption, inverse chromatography, XRD, XPS, Raman/IR spectroscopy or SEM/HR-TEM microscopy.

Required education and skills

• Master degree in chemistry, chemical technology, chemical engineering;
• experience with varied experimental work in a chemical laboratory;

ability to work as part of a team.