Development of Hydrodesulfurization Catalysts Using Molybdenum Complex with Molybdenum-sulfur Bonds (Part 1) Effect of Activation Method on Catalytic Activity

Abstract

The catalytic precursors of alumina-supported molybdenum dithiocarbamate (Mo-DTC) and molybdenum dithiophosphate (Mo-DTP) were assessed as catalysts for hydrodesulfurizastion (HDS). The effect of the activation method on catalytic activity was evaluated for the HDS of dibenzothiophene (DBT). Catalysts derived from alumina-supported Mo-DTC or Mo-DTP after activation with H2S or H2 showed HDS activity comparable to that of conventional Mo catalyst prepared with ammonium heptamolybdate. Various activation procedures for the Mo complex precursors were investigated. Mo-DTC and Mo-DTP precursors activated with N2 and H2O showed much higher catalytic activity. Moreover, the selectivity for biphenyl of the Mo-DTC and Mo-DTP catalysts, which indicates the capacity of direct desulfurization, was higher than that of the sulfided conventional Mo catalyst.