Unsupported Molybdenum and Cobalt-Molybdenum Nitrides for Thiophene Hydrodesulfurization

The catalytic activity and the structure of unsupported Mo and CoMo nitrided catalysts were investigated. It was found that the structure and catalytic activity of the nitrided catalysts are influenced by the conditions of nitridation. Molybdenum oxynitrides are more active in hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of thiophene than MoS₂. The addition of cobalt to nitrided Mo improves its HDS activity, however, sulfided CoMo catalyst is still more active than the nitrided one. Synergy between Co and Mo for the nitrided unsupported CoMo catalyst exists at lower degree than for the sulfided form of CoMo.