Catalytic Distillation of Atmospheric Residue of Petroleum over HY-MCM-41 Micro-Mesoporous Materials

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

I have some advice to improve the manuscript.

(1)-The novelty of the paper isn’t clear. Both the abstract and introduction should contain clear novelty statements.

(2)-The introduction is scarce and most of the relevant literature in the field is not cited and also the major novelty of the current work should be stated clearly in the Introduction.

(3)- It has not been explained, why are these catalysts selected?

(4)-No catalyst characterization of hybrid HY-MCM-41 was presented.

(5)-The reflection planes should be marked on the XRD spectra.

(6)-There were no comparisons of the current results with the literature.

(7)-Are the catalysts used during the reaction not deactivated? It is better that this issue be investigated.

(8)- More up-to-date references are required for this type of work.

(9)- Information about the chromatography column used and the program used should be stated.

Author Response

REVIEW 1:

 

(1) The novelty of the paper isn’t clear. Both the abstract and introduction should contain clear novelty statements.

- The Abstract was improved.

 

(2)-The introduction is scarce and most of the relevant literature in the field is not cited and also the major novelty of the current work should be stated clearly in the Introduction.

- The Introduction was updated, with new references.

 

(3)- It has not been explained, why are these catalysts selected?

- The catalyts was selected based in the acidity and microporosity of HY zeolites combined with and mesoporosity of the hexagonal structure of MCM-41

 

(4)-No catalyst characterization of hybrid HY-MCM-41 was presented.

- The catalysts were physicaly mixed, and they were  characterized individualy.

 

(5)-The reflection planes should be marked on the XRD spectra.

- Now the reflection planes were marked on the XRD spectra for both HY and MCM-41 samaples.

 

(6)-There were no comparisons of the current results with the literature.

- Some data was given

 

(7)-Are the catalysts used during the reaction not deactivated? It is better that this issue be investigated.

- The catalytic distillation was carried out using an Optidist automatic distillation equipment, and the procedure was accomplished according to ASTM D-86 methodology. Unfortunately, the final residue was not separared, for determination of coke formation and catalyts deactivation studies.

 

(8)- More up-to-date references are required for this type of work.

- Most of interesting references was included in the manuscript.

 

(9)- Information about the chromatography column used and the program used should be stated.

- A new table with the chromatography information was added in the manuscript.

 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Morais et al. presented an interesting work on the topic of Catalytic Distillation of Atmospheric Residue of Petroleum over HY-MCM-41 Micro-Mesoporous Materials. The discussion and conclusion of this work were supported by various characterizations. However, it seems that the present paper is still premature and must be arranged properly at many points of scientific discussion before the publication in Catalysts. So, I suppose that major revision is required to be accepted in this journal.

(1) There are still some language flaws and formatting issues. For instance, punctuation is missing in line 103. Line 302 also needs to add information. ‘The aromatics present in the ATR suffer thermal degradation and should reacts with some free radicals, producing alkyl-aromatics.’

(2) In Introduction Section, the intention of this research conducting on HY-MCM-41 Micro-Mesoporous Materials was obscure. Please add it.

(3) In Introduction Section, the logic of interpreting distillation tests is confusing.

(4) In the part 3, the calculation process and formula of volume recovered in figure 3 should be given.

(5) The conversion rate can be given, and a more intuitive material proportion diagram can be drawn according to the proportion of different products obtained after conversion.

(6) What references does the standard information in Table 3 come from?

(7) Please give the more detail about the Ea equation and the conversion formula used in the calculation in figure 8 in the part 3.

 

(8) The conclusion section should be more concise.

Author Response

REVIEWER 2

 

(1) There are still some language flaws and formatting issues. For instance, punctuation is missing in line 103. Line 302 also needs to add information. ‘The aromatics present in the ATR suffer thermal degradation and should reacts with some free radicals, producing alkyl-aromatics.’

- I agree. The paragraph was rewritted:

“The aim of the current work is evaluating the activity and selectivity of hybrid HY-MCM-41 micro-mesoporous material for catalytic distillation of ATR, in order to obtain high-value hydrocarbon products, such as gasoline and diesel. For this process, the large pores of hexagonal MCM-41 combined with acidity of HY zeolite are useful for reactions of catalytic cracking of large molecules of hydrocarbons, and sub-sequent separation of lower hydrocarbons, mainly in the range of natural gas, gasoline and diesel.”

 

(2) In Introduction Section, the intention of this research conducting on HY-MCM-41 Micro-Mesoporous Materials was obscure. Please add it.

- In the Introduction Section, new references were added to the manuscript, justifying the importance of use of HY and MCM-41.

 

(3) In Introduction Section, the logic of interpreting distillation tests is confusing.

- I agree.

New comments, explains and references were included in the manuscript.

 

(4) In the part 3, the calculation process and formula of volume recovered in figure 3 should be given.

- The following text was included:

“The calculation process of volume recovered consisted in monitoring the percentages of evaporated at prescribed thermometer readings. The observed percent loss to each of the observed values was reported according to the equation 14:”

 

Vr = L – Pe                                                                                               (14)

where: Vr = percentage of volume recovered, Pe = percentage evaporated; and L = observed loss.”

 

(5) The conversion rate can be given, and a more intuitive material proportion diagram can be drawn according to the proportion of different products obtained after conversion.

- The catalytic distillation was carried out using an OptDist automatic distillation equipment, and the procedure was accomplished according to ASTM D-86 methodology. Unfortunately, the required data was not possible obtain in the current study.

 

(6) What references does the standard information in Table 3 come from?

- The informations in Table 3 are typical fractions of hydrocarbons in petroleum. In Brazil, it is suggested by the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP). They are approximated boiling values.

 

(7) Please give the more detail about the Ea equation and the conversion formula used in the calculation in figure 8 in the part 3.

- The kinetic model was demonstrated step-by-step.

 

(8) The conclusion section should be more concise.

- The conclusion was revised.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

No suggestions

Reviewer 2 Report

The revised manuscript could be accepted now due to excellent revision.