Ni2P/ZrO2-SBA-15 Dibenzothiophene Hydrodesulfurization Catalysts: Preparation, Characterization and Evaluation

Abstract

Ni2P/ZrO2-SBA-15 catalysts with different zirconium n-propoxide/SBA-15 mass ratios were synthesized to evaluate their dibenzothiophene hydrodesulfurization catalytic activity. Effect of ZrO2 introduction was investigated. Supports and catalysts were characterized by BET, XRD, 29Si NMR, XPS and FTIR. The results indicated that zirconium was incorporated into SBA-15 in the forms of [(–O–)2Si(–O–Zr)2] and/or [(–O–)3Si–O–Zr], and that the SBA-15 framework structure was maintained after incorporation of ZrO2. With zirconium content increasing, ZrO2 was transformed from amorphous phase to tetragonal phase. Zirconium incorporation into SBA-15 supports could facilitate to form more dispersed Ni2P active phase. There might be some interaction occurring between the P and Zr species. In addition to Ni2P, another kind of active phase, ZrP, was formed, which might exhibit a better HDS activity than Ni2P. It was observed that at a temperature of 280 °C, pressure of 3.0 MPa, WHSV of 6.5 h−1 and H2 to oil ratio of 450, the Ni2P/Zr-SBA(1.5) catalyst, where 1.5 represents zirconium n-propoxide/SBA-15 mass ratio, showed the highest DBT conversion, which was 86.6%, almost 35% higher than that of the Ni2P/Zr-SBA(0) catalyst.