Structure Effects of High Surface Area Molybdenum Nitride Powders, Macrocrystals and Nanoparticles as Catalysts for Thiophene Desulfurization

Abstract

AbstractMo2N powder, macrocrystals and nanoparticles and porous Mo metal were synthesized using temperature programmed reduction of MoO3 powder and crystals with reactant feed gases consisting of NH3 N2/H2 mixtures and pure H2. The Mo-based catalysts were characterized using BET, XRD, TGA, SEM, and STM. The Mo-based catalysts were also analyzed for the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of thiophene. The relatively lower surface area Mo2N macrocrystalline catalysts (SSA = 44 m2/g) have a greater area specific activity than that of the higher surface area Mo2N powder catalysts (SSA = 150 m2/g) for the HDS of thiophene. Mo metal catalysts have significantly lower activity for thiophene HDS than Mo 2N catalysts and the HDS selectivities of non-sulfided Mo metal catalysts are significantly different from those of Mo 2N catalysts.