Abstract: This paper presents research on the development of high-performance Ni/Al₂O₃ catalyst for the single-stage hydrogenation of heavy ethylene tar. The research fabricated an Al₂O₃ support with larger pore sizes and higher strength through a graded pore creation technique. Following zirconium modification and induced decomposition under varying atmospheres, the dispersion of the nickel component was significantly enhanced. In terms of the process, the solvent deasphalting combined with hydrotreating scheme was employed. Under an inlet temperatures of 120 ℃ and pressures ranging from 2.0 to 5.0 MPa, a 200-hour stability test was conducted. The results show that this catalyst exhibits superior catalytic activity and stability for deasphalted tar hydrotreating compared to direct hydrotreating, demonstrating strong potential for industrial application.

Key words: hydrogenation of heavy ethylene tar, zirconium modification, atmosphere induction, Nickel/Alumina