Carbon-supported sulfide catalysts

• Published in: Journal of catalysis Vol. 80; no. 2; pp. 386 - 402
• Main Authors: Duchet, J.C., van Oers, E.M., de Beer, V.H.J., Prins, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.01.1983
• ISSN: 0021-9517; 1090-2694
• DOI: 10.1016/0021-9517(83)90263-4

The activities of sulfided Mo C , W C , Co C , Ni C , Co- Mo C , and Ni-W C catalysts for thiophene hydrodesulfurization and butene hydrogenation were studied using a flow microreactor operating at atmospheric pressure. The following parameters were varied: type of carbon support, carbon pretreatment, catalyst preparation method, and content of active material. The results are compared with those obtained for series of sulfided Mo/γ-Al 2O 3, W/γ-Al 2O 3, Mo SiO 2 , and W SiO 2 . Some samples, viz., Mo C , Co C , and Co-Mo C , were also studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The carbon-supported catalysts demonstrated outstanding performance for thiophene hydrodesulfurization. XPS analysis showed the presence of low-valence-state sulfur, e.g., S − or (S-S) 2−, in Mo C and Co C catalysts with low molybdenum or cobalt content. These sulfurspecies are supposedly connected with the catalytic activity for hydrodesulfurization. Co C and Ni C were found to have a hydrodesulfurization activity which was higher (Co) or the same (Ni) as that measured for Mo C or W C . Therefore Co (Ni) ions in Co (Ni)-Mo (W) C catalysts are considered as promoters for the MoS 2 (WS 2) phase (low Co Mo or Ni W ratios) or as additional active species.