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Role of nickel in the activity of unsupported Ni-Mo hydrodesulfurization catalysts

Journal Article · · J. Catal.; (United States)

A series of unsupported nickel-molybdenum sulfide catalysts covering the range 0 to 100 atom % nickel has been prepared by continuous coprecipitation. The catalyst containing 55 atom % nickel showed the highest specific activity for thiophene hydrodesulfurization. Chemical and structural analyses of the catalysts appear consistent with the suggestion that the hydrodesulfurization sites are coordinatively unsaturated Mo/sup 3 +/ cations at anion vacancies on the edges of the MoS/sub 2/ flakes, while edge-intercalated nickel serves as an olefin hydrogenation site, and reducing Mo/sup 4 +/ to Mo/sup 3 +/, in accordance with the structural model of Cossee and Farragher. Highly dispersed Ni/sub 3/S/sub 2/ is suggested to play a role in hydrogen activation, transferring protons and electrons to the MoS/sub 2/, and this may form the origin of the synergistic mechanism. The likely roles of the promoter are summarized.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
OSTI ID:
6540733
Journal Information:
J. Catal.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Catal.; (United States) Vol. 66:1; ISSN JCTLA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English