Thiophene Hydrodesulfurization over Nickel Phosphide Catalysts: Effect of the Precursor Composition and Support
Silica- and alumina-supported nickel phosphide (NixPy) catalysts have been prepared, characterized by bulk and surface sensitive techniques, and evaluated for the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of thiophene. Series of 30 wt% NixPy/SiO2 and 20 wt% NixPy/Al2O3 catalysts were prepared from oxidic precursors having a range of P/Ni molar ratios by temperature programmed reduction (TPR) in flowing H2. Oxidic precursors with molar ratios of P/Ni = 0.8 and 2.0 yielded catalysts containing phase-pure Ni2P on the silica and alumina supports, respectively. At lower P/Ni ratios, significant Ni12P5 impurities were present in the NixPy/SiO2 and NixPy/Al2O3 catalysts as indicated by X-ray diffraction. The HDS activities of the NixPy/SiO2 and NixPy/Al2O3 catalysts depended strongly on the P/Ni molar ratio of the oxidic precursors with optimal activities obtained for catalysts containing phase pure Ni2P and minimal excess P. After 48 h on-stream, a Ni2P/SiO2 catalyst was 20 and 3.3 times more active than sulfided Ni/SiO2 and Ni-Mo/SiO2 catalysts, respectively. A Ni2P/Al2O3 catalyst was 2.7 times more active than a sulfided Ni/Al2O3 catalyst but only about half as active as a Ni-Mo/Al2O3 catalyst.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US), Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 15016051
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-43030; JCTLA5; 2093; KP1704020; TRN: US200509%%703
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Catalysis, 231(2):300–313, Vol. 231, Issue 2; ISSN 0021-9517
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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