Influence of the texture and acid-base properties of the alumina-containing support on the formation of Co(Ni)-Mo catalysts for deep hydrodesulfurization of the diesel fraction

The influence of the texture of γ-Al₂O₃ on the formation of Co(Ni)-Mo catalysts for hydrodesulfurization of the diesel fraction is studied. As shown by low-temperature N₂ adsorption, X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy of adsorbed molecules, and high resolution electron microscopy (HREM), use of a support with a larger specific surface and a lower total concentration of terminal OH groups makes it possible to prepare more active catalysts. The electron density radial distribution method shows that the finely dispersed cobaltcontaining catalyst in its initial state contains CoMoO₄, Al₂(MoO₄)₃, and CoAl₂O₄, the last two phases being present in trace amounts. After the reaction, this catalyst contains cobalt-doped molybdenum sulfide. According to HREM data, the active phase of the cobalt-containing catalyst consists of layered sulfide association species Co_1.3Mo₂S_3.3, which differ in composition from the bulk phase CoMo₂S₄. It is assumed that, out of the 1.3 cobalt atoms in Co_1.3Mo₂S_3.3 0.3 Co occurs at the edges of the association species and 1.0 Co is intercalated into their interlayer space, and 0.7 S at the boundary between the association species and the Al₂O₃ phase is replaced by the corresponding amount of oxygen.