Ruthenium molybdenum sulphide catalysts : physicochemical characterization and catalytic properties in HDS, hydrogenation and HDN reactions.

Abstract

Alumina supported RuMo sulphide catalysts having different weights of metal content and atomic composition ratios r=Ru/(Ru+Mo) were prepared by using ammonium heptamolybdate dissolved in water or a 10% (NH 4) 2S-H 2O solution and RuCl 3.3H 2O as precursor compounds. Their activities were studied in the hydrodesulphurization (HDS) of thiophene and in the hydrogenation (HYD) of biphenyl, and optimized in terms of the preparation method and the sulphidation process. Some hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) tests were also performed on these catalysts. Electron microscopy and XPS measurements were performed, and the nature of the active phase was discussed.