Efficient Ni2P /Al2O3 hydrodesulfurization catalysts from surface hybridization of Al2O3 particles with graphite-like carbon

Abstract

Developing more effective catalysts for the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) process has gained more importance in recent decades to produce ultraclean fuel. In the current study, a novel carbon covered alumina (CCA) was prepared as a support for the Ni2P catalyst for the HDS reaction of dibenzothiophene (DBT). The prepared composites were characterized by using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The catalytic activity of the Ni2P catalysts supported on carbon covered alumina (CCA) was tested and compared with the Ni2P catalysts supported on alumina. As compared to Ni2P/CCA0 (72.1%), the DBT conversion of Ni2P/CCA3 (96.2%) had an increase by 24.1%. The incorporation of carbon could increase the catalytic activity by promoting the formation of active Ni2P phase without AlPO4 and leading to the better dispersion of Ni2P on the surface of support. And the BP selectivity was slightly enhanced after the introduction of carbon layer.