Sulfur‐33 Isotope Tracing of the Hydrodesulfurization Process: Insights into the Reaction Mechanism,Catalyst Characterization and Improvement

The novel approach based on ³³S isotope tracing is proposed for the elucidation of hydrodesulfurization (HDS) mechanisms and characterization of molybdenum sulfide catalysts. The technique involves sulfidation of the catalyst with ³³S‐isotope‐labeled dihydrogen sulfide, followed by monitoring the fate of the ³³S isotope in the course of the hydrodesulfurization reaction by online mass spectrometry and characterization of the catalyst after the reaction by temperature‐programmed oxidation with mass spectrometry (TPO‐MS). The results point to different pathways of thiophene transformation over Co or Ni‐promoted and unpromoted molybdenum sulfide catalysts, provide information on the role of promoter and give a key for the design of new efficient HDS catalysts.     

Elucidation of hydrodesulfurization mechanism on molybdenum‐based catalysts using 35S radioisotope pulse tracer methods

Elucidation of the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) mechanism on molybdenum‐based catalysts using radioisotope tracer methods and reaction kinetics is reviewed. Firstly, to investigate the sulfidation state in Mo/Al₂O₃ and Co–Mo/Al₂O₃ catalysts, presulfiding of these catalysts has been performed using a ³⁵S pulse tracer method. Secondly, HDS of radioactive ³⁵S‐labeled dibenzothiophene was carried out over a series of sulfided molybdena–alumina catalysts and cobalt‐promoted molybdena–alumina catalysts in a pressurized flow reactor to estimate the behavior of sulfur on the working catalysts. Finally, sulfur exchange of a ³⁵S‐labeled catalyst with hydrogen sulfide was performed to estimate the relationship between the amount of labile sulfur and catalytically active sites.     

Comparing the hydrodesulfurization reaction of thiophene on γ-Al2O3 supported CoMo, NiMo and NiW sulfide catalysts

The thiophene hydrodesulfurization (HDS) reaction on γ-Al₂O₃ supported CoMo, NiMo and NiW sulfide catalysts was compared in order to gain insight into the promoter effect on direct desulfurization (DDS) and hydrogenation (HYD) pathways. Ni-promoted Mo (or W) sulfide catalysts favor the hydrogen transfer reactions relative to CoMo sulfide catalyst, which facilitates the direct route instead. This different performance and also the dependence of the apparent Arrhenius parameters with the catalyst formulation were attributed to the major participation of Mo (or W) edge for the Ni-containing catalysts and S edge for CoMo sulfide catalyst upon the thiophene-HDS reaction.     

Ultra Deep Hydrodesulfurization of Gas Oils Over Sulfide and/or Noble Metal Catalysts

Deep hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of sterically hindered sulfur compounds in gas oils will require enhanced hydrogenation activity to hydrogenate the aromatic rings of the sulfur compounds. Although H₂S is known to inhibit the direct HDS route for most of the sulfided catalysts, its promotion to the hydrogenation and subsequent HDS was newly observed for unsupported MoS₂. This promotion suggests that ultra deep HDS over sulfide catalysts can be achieved along with high metal loading, minimal support-metal interactions and optimal dependence on the Ni species. On the other hand, the strong hydrogenation activity of sulfur-tolerant noble metal catalysts suggests that ultra deep HDS as well as deep aromatics saturation can be achieved. This paper discusses recent catalytic approaches for ultra deep HDS using conventional sulfide catalysts and/or noble metal catalysts, such as the newly developed Pd-Pt/Yb-USY zeolite catalyst.     

Sulfide Catalysts Supported on Al2O3: VI. Synthesis of Catalysts with the Use of Binuclear Molybdenum(V) Complexes with Sulfur-Containing Ligands

A new method was developed for the preparation of sulfide catalysts supported on aluminum oxide. The surface assembling of a direct precursor of the active component was used in this method. The method consists in the sequential immobilization of binuclear molybdenum complexes with S-containing ligands on the support surface followed by the immobilization of nickel (cobalt) compounds at the surface molybdenum complexes. The complexation and structure of the resulting complexes in solution and the structure of surface complexes were studied by ⁹⁵Mo and ¹⁷O NMR, IR, and EXAFS spectroscopy. The surface assembling of a direct precursor of the active component of sulfide hydrodesulfurization catalysts was demonstrated using IR and EXAFS spectroscopy. The activity of the resulting catalysts in a model reaction of thiophene hydrogenolysis was comparable to the activity of sulfide catalysts of the metal complex origin and was much higher than the activity of commercial catalysts and catalysts prepared by impregnation.     

Cobalt-promoted MoS2 nanosheets: A promising novel diesel hydrodesulfurization catalyst

MoS₂ has been commonly used as a catalyst in hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of petroleum cuts in crude oil refineries. In this study, the synthesis of unsupported MoS₂ and Co-promoted MoS₂ nanosheets produced from molybdenum oxide and thiourea is reported. The synthesized samples were characterized by using x-ray fluorescence, x-ray diffraction, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), temperature-programmed reduction, thermal gravimetric analysis, and transmission electron microscopy methods, and then they were utilized for HDS of diesel through a fixed-bed catalytic reactor. Results indicated that a cobalt promoter affected both the number and the performance of active sites of the molybdenum sulfides, and the activity of the promoted MoS₂ catalyst was consistently higher than that of the MoS₂ catalyst. More significantly, the activity of the promoted catalyst was slightly declined during 48 h continuous HDS reaction, which indicated the stability of this catalyst. Additionally, during 12 h of test run, the HDS activity of the promoted catalyst was about 60% higher than MoS₂ one.     

Mono- and heterometallic carbonyl precursor based RuMo/Al2O3 catalysts: hydrodesulfurization activity and temperature programmed studies

The effects of preparation process and starting material on hydrodesulfurization (HDS) activity of alumina supported ruthenium, molybdenum and ruthenium–molybdenum hydrotreating catalysts were investigated. Conventional impregnation method and gradual gas phase adsorption were compared as a preparation route. The HDS tests showed that controlled gas phase deposition is advantageous in the preparation of the monometallic catalyst systems. The most promising HDS activity was achieved with the RuMo/Al₂O₃ catalyst prepared from binuclear organometallic complex. This suggests that the direct ruthenium–molybdenum bond in the structure of the catalyst precursor favors the formation of highly active surface phase. The oxidation and reduction behavior of the catalysts was studied by oxygen pulse chemisorption (PCO) and temperature programmed reduction (TPR). A clear relationship was observed between the method of preparation and the reactivity of the surface species.     

Genesis and activity of mo-based hydrotreating catalysts prepared by a sol-gel method

Molybdenum oxide-alumina catalysts used in hydrodesulfurization (HDS) with a wide range of Mo loadings (1–25% Mo) were prepared by the sol-gel process. Two different methods of adding the molybdenum oxide precursor to the support were used.In the first route, alumina is prepared by hydrolysis of aluminium tri sec-butylate in butanol and butanediol, and molybdenum is deposited by a classical dry impregnation with ammonium heptamolybdate (AHM). In the second route, the molybdenum oxospecies are dispersed in butanediol and added to the aluminium alkoxide before hydrolysis. The solids were calcined to obtain the oxide precursors which are then sulfided to give the active phase in hydrodesulfurization.The effect of preparation on the structural properties of alumina as well as on the state and dispersion of molybdenum in the dried, calcined and sulfided form was studied by various characterization techniques (XRD, XPS, Raman spectroscopy). Molybdenum appears to be present as well dispersed oxomolybdenum species in the oxide form even at high loadings. This good dispersion of molybdenum is preserved after sulfidation which induces the formation of MoS₂ crystallites whose morphology has been determined by HREM.The catalyst activities were evaluated in thiophene hydrodesulfurization and compared with that of catalysts prepared by dry impregnation of a commercial alumina. The observed performances are in agreement with the good dispersion of molybdenum at high loadings we were able to obtain owing to the sol-gel process.     

钼镍负载催化剂表面组份及其活性的研究

利用X光光电子能谱(XPS)，激光拉曼光谱(LRS)和程序升温还原(TRP)等技术，研究了高载钼量的负载钼镍催化剂的表面组份形式．结果表明，催化剂在氧化态、还原态、硫化态时表面的主要组份分别以类似NiMoO_4结构的NiMo_xO_y多种价态钼酸盐及金属镍，氧硫钼镍及硫化钼形式存在．三种化学态的加氢脱硫活性顺序为硫化态，还原态>>氧化态．还原态表面检测到金属镍，据此提出了金属镍所产生的氢溢流效应是还原态活性明显增加的一个原因．文中由硫化态、还原态表面组份与反应活性之间的关联结果支持了Kwart提出的多点催化反应机理．     

Enzyme Mimetic Active Intermediates for Nitrate Reduction in Neutral Aqueous Media

Nitrate is a pervasive aquatic contaminant of global environmental concern. In nature, the most effective nitrate reduction reaction (NRR) is catalyzed by nitrate reductase enzymes at neutral pH, using a highly‐conserved Mo center ligated mainly by oxo and thiolate groups. Mo‐based NRR catalysts mostly function in organic solvents with a low water stability. Recently, an oxo‐containing molybdenum sulfide nanoparticle that serves as an NRR catalyst at neutral pH was first reported. Herein, in a nanoparticle‐catalyzed NRR system a pentavalent Mo^V(=O)S₄ species, an enzyme mimetic, served as an active intermediate for the NRR. Potentiometric titration analysis revealed that a redox synergy among Mo^V?S, S radicals, and Mo^V(=O)S₄ likely play a key role in stabilizing Mo^V(=O)S₄, showing the importance of secondary interactions in facilitating NRR. The first identification and characterization of an oxo‐ and thiolate‐ligated Mo intermediates pave the way to the molecular design of efficient enzyme mimetic NRR catalysts in aqueous solution.     

Hydrodesulfurization catalysts P-Mo-W/γ-Al2O3: Characterization and catalytic activity

P-Mo-W/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts with various Mo and W contents have been synthesized. The parameters of the porous structure of their sulfide and oxide forms have been determined. The geometric parameters of the active phase of the sulfide catalysts have been calculated using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy data. The catalytic activity has been estimated in dibenzothiophene (DBT) hydrodesulfurization (HDS). The reaction under the conditions examined proceeds mainly as direct hydrodesulfurization. The catalytic activity has been correlated with the Mo/W molar ratio and with the proportions of edge and corner sites.     

A novel route for synthesis of NiCoP/SiO2 hydrodesulfurization catalysts with active S species

We report a new route for synthesis of NiCoP/SiO₂ with active S species using NiS and CoS as precursors. The as‐prepared catalysts were characterized using X‐ray powder diffraction, N₂‐adsorption specific surface area measurements, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The catalyst was highly active during the dibenzothiophene hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of NiCoP/SiO₂. The XPS spectra of the as‐obtained samples show that the surface of NiCoP contains a small amount of S species, which may be responsible for the higher HDS activity.     

Elucidation of hydrodesulfurization mechanism on molybdenum‐based catalysts using 35S radioisotope pulse tracer methods

Elucidation of the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) mechanism on molybdenumbased catalysts using radioisotope tracer methods and reaction kinetics is reviewed. Firstly, to investigate the sulfidation state in Mo/Al₂O₃ and Co–Mo/Al₂O₃ catalysts, presulfiding of these catalysts has been performed using a ³⁵S pulse tracer method. Secondly, HDS of radioactive ³⁵Slabeled dibenzothiophene was carried out over a series of sulfided molybdena–alumina catalysts and cobaltpromoted molybdena–alumina catalysts in a pressurized flow reactor to estimate the behavior of sulfur on the working catalysts. Finally, sulfur exchange of a ³⁵Slabeled catalyst with hydrogen sulfide was performed to estimate the relationship between the amount of labile sulfur and catalytically active sites.     

Effect of support on the synergy in HDS of thiophene and HDN of pyridine over Mo sulfide catalysts promoted by Rh

The effect of support (SiO₂-Al₂O₃, Al₂O₃,MgO) of the Rh-Mo(S) sulfide catalysts on the synergy in hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of thiophene and hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) of pyridine was studied. The synergy in HDS was between 7–10 regardless of the kind of support used. The synergy in HDN varied from none over the MgO supported sample to about 3 over SiO₂-Al₂O₃ supported catalyst, in accord with the positive effect of increasing support acidities. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

制备参数对β-Mo2N0.78催化剂加氢脱硫活性影响的研究

以N2与H2的混合气为反应气，和三氧化钼进行多段程序升温反应，制得一种β晶型的氮化钼。以噻吩为模型化合物的常压加氢脱硫反应表明，β-Mo2N0.78具有较强的加氢脱硫活性和强的抗硫化性能。同时考察了预还原、反应温度以及氮化末温、升温速率、反应气中N2-H2比及氮化时间等制备参数对β-Mo2N0.78加氢脱硫活性的影响。研究发现，β-Mo2N0.78的加氢脱硫活性在320 ℃～400 ℃随反应温度的升高增强，而还原预处理会降低催化剂的活性。氮化末温、氮化时间、反应气组成和升温速率等制备参数对催化剂的活性有明显的影响：随着氮化末温的升高，所制备的催化剂催化加氢脱硫活性降低；在氮化末温恒温较长时间，可以引起制备催化剂的加氢脱硫活性下降；存在最佳的反应气组成和各段升温速率。小晶粒的β-Mo2N0.78具有强的加氢脱硫活性。     

In Situ Radioisotopic Study of the Active Sites of Sulfide CoMo Catalysts and the Mechanism of Thiophene Hydrodesulfurization

The mechanism of thiophene hydrodesulfurization over sulfide catalysts for hydrotreating and the effect of the catalyst composition and feed on the number, distribution, and performance of active sites were studied using ³⁵S and ³H isotopes. Based on the results of radioisotopic study, a method for systematic testing–monitoring of sulfide Co(Ni)Mo catalysts for hydrotreating is developed. The method involves the evaluation of the fraction of the active phase surface occupied by SH groups and the ratio between the concentrations of the surface SH groups and coordinatively unsaturated sites including functioning vacancies. General conditions for the formation and functioning of active sites are formulated on the basis of the monitoring data. Criteria for evaluation of the catalyst performance under conditions of hydrodesulfurization of various kinds of crude are proposed. The results of the pilot tests of commercial catalysts suggest that the criteria proposed are suitable.     

硫代硫酸铵预硫化的Mo/AC催化剂加氢脱硫性能的研究

采用等体积浸渍法将硫代硫酸铵(ATS)负载在Mo/AC催化剂上,制备了器外预硫化的Mo/AC-ATS催化剂;以噻吩加氢脱硫(HDS)为探针反应,考察了活化温度和活化时间对预硫化催化剂加氢脱硫活性的影响。研究发现,300 ℃下活化0.5 h所得到的预硫化催化剂具有最好的加氢脱硫活性。与传统硫化剂CS₂和DMDS硫化的催化剂相比,采用Mo/AC-ATS催化剂,在最佳活化条件下,噻吩转化率分别提高了34%和42%。XPS、TPR-MS和TEM等表征结果显示,预硫化的Mo/AC-ATS催化剂中Mo⁴⁺含量较高,这是其具有较高加氢脱硫活性的主要原因。     

Development of Highly Active Co(Ni)Mo Catalysts for the Hydrodesulfurization of Dibenzothiophene Compounds

Co- or Ni-promoted Mo sulfide catalysts were prepared by combining three methods, sonochemical synthesis of Mo sulfides, promoter addition by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), and fluorination of alumina support, to improve their performance in the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) process. Sonochemically synthesized Mo sulfides exhibited higher HDS activity, particularly for the hydrogenation (HYD) of dibenzothiophene (DBT) compounds, than in the case of the catalysts prepared by impregnation due to the improved dispersion of the Mo species. The addition of Co or Ni to the catalyst by a CVD method allowed the selective decoration of the Mo-sulfide surface with the promoter and accordingly produced greater amounts of the Co–Mo–S and Ni–Mo–S phases, which are known to be active sites for HDS. The performance of catalysts prepared by combining sonochemical and CVD methods was further improved by the addition of fluorine, which generated Brönsted acid sites that were responsible for the HYD route and also for the migration of methyl groups in 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT).     

Influence of Pd-Ce interaction and chlorine ion on hydrodesulfurization reaction: The activity and sulfur tolerance of the Pd-Ceo2/Al2O3 catalyst

CeO₂ promoted palladium catalysts supported on Al₂O₃ were prepared using the impregnation (IM) and the deposition-precipitation (DP) methods. The activities and sulfur tolerance of the catalysts for hydrodesulfurization (HDS) were detected with thiophene HDS as probe reaction. H₂ adsorption, XRD, FTIR, NH₃-TPD, XPS were used to characterize the catalysts. The Pd-CeO₂/Al₂O₃ (IM) catalyst was highly active for the HDS reaction, and it had much stronger sulfur tolerance than the Pd/Al₂O₃ catalyst. Pd-CeO₂/Al₂O₃ (DP) showed excellent sulfur tolerance while its initial activity decreased. It was observed that with the chlorine bridge, the interfacial structure of Pd-Cl⁻¹-Ce³⁺ was responsible for the high activity of the Pd-CeO₂/Al₂O₃ (IM) catalyst, at the same time the interaction of Pd with Ce was weakened by Cl₋₁ ions. The enhanced sulfur tolerance over the Pd-CeO₂/Al₂O₃ (IM) catalyst was attributed to the weakened Pd-S bond caused by the competitive adsorption of H₂S on Ce³⁺ ions. As to the Pd-CeO₂/Al₂O₃ (DP) catalyst, a strong interaction of Pd with Ce put Pd at an electron-deficient state, the creation of sulfided palladium was therefore inhibited.     

Improvement of the Mo/TiO2-Al2O3 Catalyst by the Control of the Sol-Gel Synthesis

Traditional hydrotreating catalysts are constituted by molybdenum deposited on Al₂O₃ promoted by nickel and phosphorous. Several studies have shown that TiO₂-Al₂O₃ mixed oxides are excellent supports for the active phases. Results concerning the preparation, characterization and testing of molybdenum catalyst supported on titania-alumina are presented. The support was prepared by sol-gel route using titanium and aluminum isopropoxides, the titanium one chelated with acetylacetone (acac) to promote similar hydrolysis ratio for both the alcoxides. The effect of nominal molar ratio [Ti]/[Ti+Al] on the microstructural features of nanometric particles was analyzed by X-Ray Diffraction, N₂ Adsorption Isotherms and Transmission Electron Microscopy. The catalytic activity of Mo impregnated supports was evaluated using the thiophene hydrodesulfurization at different temperatures and atmospheric pressure. The pores size distribution curve moves from the micropores to the mesopores by increasing the Ti contents, allowing the fine tuning of average size from 2.5 to 6 nm. Maximal (367 m²·g^?1) and minimal (127 m²·g^?1) surface area were found for support containing [Ti]/[Ti+Al] ratio equal to 0.1 and 1, respectively. The good mesopore texture of alumina-titania support with [Ti]/[Ti+Al] molar ratio between 0.3 and 0.5 was found particularly valuable for the preparation of well dispersed MoS₂ active phase, leading to HDS catalyst with somewhat higher activity than that prepared using a commercial alumina support.