Hydrotreating catalyst for hydrocarbon oil, process for producing same, and hydrotreating method

Abstract

Provided herein is a hydrotreating catalyst for hydrocarbon oil having high desulfurization activity, and high abrasion strength and high compressive strength. A process for producing the hydrotreating catalyst is also provided. The hydrotreating catalyst uses an alumina-phosphorus support. The support contains 0.5 to 2.0 mass % of phosphorus in terms of an oxide. The support loads a metal in Group 6A of the periodic table, and a metal in Group 8 of the periodic table. The hydrotreating catalyst has a specific surface area of 150 m/g or more. The hydrotreating catalyst has a total pore volume of 0.40 to 0.75 ml/g as measured by a mercury intrusion method. The hydrotreating catalyst has two maximal peaks in a pore diameter range of 6 nm to 13 nm in a log differential pore volume distribution measured by a mercury intrusion method. The hydrotreating catalyst has an abrasion strength of 0.5% or less. The hydrotreating catalyst has a compressive strength of 15 N/mm or more. The support is produced from, for example, a hydrate obtained by adding phosphorus to an alumina hydrate obtained by using two mixtures of an acidic aqueous aluminum salt solution and a basic aqueous aluminum salt solution.