Ex Situ Upgrading of Extra Heavy Oil: The Effect of Pore Shape of Co-Mo/γ-Al2O3 Catalysts

Co-Mo/γ-Al2O3 catalysts with different pore shapes were synthesized for the ex situ upgrading of extra heavy oils by hydrodesulfurization (HDS), hydrodemetallization (HDM), and hydrodeasphaltization (HDA). The catalysts were synthesized using aluminum oxides that were prepared by various methods. It was found that using the product obtained by the thermochemical activation of gibbsite leads to the formation of slit-shaped pores in aluminum oxide, while the application of the hydroxide deposition method by the precipitation of sodium aluminate and nitric acid gives cylindrical pores in aluminum oxide. Co-Mo catalysts synthesized using these two types of pores exhibit different catalytic activities. The catalyst synthesized on a carrier with cylindrical pores exhibited a higher catalytic activity in sulfur, heavy metals, and asphaltenes removal reactions that are synthesized on a carrier with slit-like pores. This is because the presence of cylindrical pores leads to a decrease in diffusion restrictions when removing large molecules of asphaltenes and sulfur-containing and metal-containing compounds

Ex Situ Upgrading of Extra Heavy Oil: The Effect of Pore Shape of Co-Mo/γ-Al₂O₃ Catalysts

Co-Mo/γ-Al2O3 catalysts with different pore shapes were synthesized for the ex situ upgrading of extra heavy oils by hydrodesulfurization (HDS), hydrodemetallization (HDM), and hydrodeasphaltization (HDA). The catalysts were synthesized using aluminum oxides that were prepared by various methods. It was found that using the product obtained by the thermochemical activation of gibbsite leads to the formation of slit-shaped pores in aluminum oxide, while the application of the hydroxide deposition method by the precipitation of sodium aluminate and nitric acid gives cylindrical pores in aluminum oxide. Co-Mo catalysts synthesized using these two types of pores exhibit different catalytic activities. The catalyst synthesized on a carrier with cylindrical pores exhibited a higher catalytic activity in sulfur, heavy metals, and asphaltenes removal reactions that are synthesized on a carrier with slit-like pores. This is because the presence of cylindrical pores leads to a decrease in diffusion restrictions when removing large molecules of asphaltenes and sulfur-containing and metal-containing compounds

Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for severe autoimmune diseases in children: A review of current literature, registry activity and future directions on behalf of the autoimmune diseases and paediatric diseases working parties of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation

Although modern clinical management strategies have improved the outcome of paediatric patients with severe autoimmune and inflammatory diseases over recent decades, a proportion will experience ongoing or recurrent/relapsing disease activity despite multiple therapies often leading to irreversible organ damage, and compromised quality of life, growth/development and long-term survival. Autologous and allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) have been used successfully to induce disease control and often apparent cure of severe treatment-refractory autoimmune diseases (ADs) in children. However, transplant-related outcomes are disease-dependent and long-term outcome data are limited in respect to efficacy and safety. Moreover, balancing risks of HSCT against AD prognosis with continually evolving non-transplant options is challenging. This review appraises published literature on HSCT strategies and outcomes in individual paediatric ADs. We also provide a summary of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) Registry, where 343 HSCT procedures (176 autologous and 167 allogeneic) have been reported in 326 children (<18 years) for a range of AD indications. HSCT is a promising treatment modality, with potential long-term disease control or cure, but therapy-related morbidity and mortality need to be reduced. Further research is warranted to establish the position of HSCT in paediatric ADs via registries and prospective clinical studies to support evidence-based interspeciality guidelines and recommendations