Activity and selectivity of Co(Ni)Mo sulfides supported on MgO, Al2O3, ZrO2, TiO2, MCM-41 and activated carbon in parallel hydrodeoxygenation of octanoic acid and hydrodesulfurization of 1-benzothiophene

Abstract

Mo, CoMo and NiMo sulfide catalysts were prepared using MgO, Al2O3, ZrO2, TiO2, MCM-41 and activated carbon supports. The catalysts were tested in parallel hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of octanoic acid and hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of 1-benzothiophene. For all supports, NiMo catalysts were more active in both HDO and HDS than Mo and CoMo catalysts. HDO activity of NiMo catalysts decreased with type of support in the following order TiO2 > C > ZrO2 > Al2O3 > MCM-41 > MgO. The products of HDO were linear C7 and C8 hydrocarbons. Some isomerization and cracking activity was observed only with MCM-41 support. HDS activity of NiMo catalysts decreased in the following order C > ZrO2 > TiO2 > Al2O3 > MgO > MCM-41. HDO/HDS selectivity was influenced by the active phase and the support type and it was the highest over the NiMo/TiO2 catalyst.