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Thiophene hydrodesulfurization over alumina-supported molybdenum carbide and nitride catalysts: Adsorption sites, catalytic activities, and nature of the active surface

Journal Article · · Journal of Catalysis
; ;  [1]
  1. Western Washington Univ., Bellingham, WA (United States); and others

Mo{sub 2}C/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} and Mo{sub 2}N/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} catalysts have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction, pulsed chemisorption (CO and O{sub 2}) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and temperature programmed desorption (TPD) measurements. Thiophene hydrodesulfurization (HDS) activities were measured for alumina-supported Mo carbide and nitride catalysts as well as a sulfided Mo/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} catalyst, all with a 10 wt% Mo loading. The HDS activities ({mu}mol Th/mol Mo/s) of the catalysts after 24 h at 693 K were found to increase according to the trend sulfided Mo <{gamma}-Mo{sub 2}N < {beta}-Mo{sub 2}C, and provide further evidence that carbide and nitride catalysts have the potential to replace sulfided Mo catalysts in commercial HDS reactors. X-ray diffraction analysis of fresh and tested 30 wt% Mo{sub 2}C/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} and Mo{sub 2}N/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} catalysts indicates that the bulk structure of the carbide ({beta}-Mo{sub 2}C) and nitride ({gamma}-Mo{sub 2}N) particles is retained, while IR spectroscopy of adsorbed CO indicates that the surface of the carbide and nitride particles becomes sulfided under reaction conditions. A model is proposed for the structure of the active catalytic surface of the alumina-supported Mo carbide and nitride catalysts in which a thin layer of highly dispersed sulfided Mo is present on the surfaces of the carbide and nitride particles. 38 refs., 10 figs., 4 tabs.

OSTI ID:
486380
Journal Information:
Journal of Catalysis, Journal Name: Journal of Catalysis Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 164; ISSN 0021-9517; ISSN JCTLA5
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English