A New Route for the Synthesis of Ammonium Thiotungstate, a Catalyst Precursor

Abstract

Ammonium thiotungstate (ATT), (NH4)2WS4, is prepared by a new method using (NH4)2S, and compared with ATT obtained by conventional sulfidation with H2S(g). The XRD spectra of both samples are very similar to the simulated spectrum of ATT. UV–Vis and FT-IR spectra of both samples have characteristic bands for ATT. SEM micrographs show a similar morphology between the samples. TGA-DTA curves of both samples are the same, corresponding to the decomposition of ATT. Analytical results thus show that the ATT obtained by this new, safer, method is the same as the ATT obtained by sulfidation with poisonous H2S(g). The HDS activity of the WS2 catalyst derived from ATT prepared by the new method described here is equivalent to that of ATT prepared by the conventional method.