Abstract
This work investigates bifunctional nickel-molybdenum catalysts based on mesoporous aluminosilicates Al–HMS with different Si/Al ratios in the hydroaromatization of a model aromatic hydrocarbon. Mesoporous aluminosilicates were synthesized by a template method and characterized using X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption-desorption, ammonia temperature-programmed desorption, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. The results show that increasing the aluminum content in the Al–HMS framework leads to an increase in material acidity. Catalytic performance was evaluated in the hydroaromatization of 2-methylnaphthalene in a model mixture with n-hexadecane at temperatures of 220-300 °С and a hydrogen pressure of 6 MPa. An increase in temperature was found to enhance conversion, whereas a higher Si/Al ratio resulted in decreased conversion due to a reduced concentration of acidic sites. The highest catalytic efficiency was achieved over the Ni–Mo–Al–HMS(10)–H-bentonite catalyst at 240 °С and a reaction time of 5 hours, providing a conversion of 97% and a selectivity toward the target product, 2-methyldecalin, of 93%. These results demonstrate the potential of mesoporous aluminosilicates as effective catalyst supports for hydroaromatization processes.