Aromatic reduction properties of molybdenum sulfide clusters in HY zeolite

Molybdenum sulfide catalysts supported on an HY zeolite at various Mo contents were studied. Catalysts were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation with ammonium heptamolybdate solution and calcined without drying. Their reactivity has been evaluated in toluene hydrogenation under typical hydrotreating conditions. Compared to alumina supported catalysts, zeolite supported Mo catalysts are extremely active for aromatics hydrogenation. At low molybdenum loading, molybdenum sulfide phases inside the zeolite show a particularly high intrinsic activity. This activity can be attributed to molybdenum sulfide clusters differing from MoS₂ slabs.     

Deep desulfurization: reactions, catalysts and technological challenges

Very stringent regulation in the maximal S content of gas oil have led to an intense activity of research dealing with all the aspects of desulfurization. The design of future processes is based on the identification of the refractory sulfur compounds and the knowledge of their individual reactivity and in the presence of inhibitors, as illustrated in this paper. This knowledge have oriented the research towards new catalysts such as molybdenum sulfide supported on zeolites, combination of sulfide and noble metal catalysts, and molybdenum carbides. Non-catalytic approaches like charge transfer complex were also examined. This paper summarises these various aspects of desulfurization.     

Characteristics of bimetallic cobalt and molybdenum catalysts supported on activated carbon or alumina in hydrodesulfurization

A series of bimetallic cobalt (Co) and molybdenum (Mo) catalysts supported on activated carbon or alumina were prepared, and their activities in thiophene hydrodesulfurization and ethylene hydrogenation were compared. The nitric oxide (NO) chemisorption and temperature programmed desorption (TPD) were used to characterize the nature of the synergistic active sites. Carbon supported catalysts also demonstrated the synergism in activity, which is well known for alumina supported catalysts. The specific activity and the adsorption stoichiometry of each site were interpreted from NO chemisorption. The possibility of NO as a probe molecule for sulfide catalysts was provided by the present work.     

Cumene hydrocracking and thiophene HDS on niobia-supported Ni, Mo and Ni–Mo catalysts

Results are reported on the XPS characterization and catalytic activity in cumene hydrocracking (2.8 MPa, 623 K) and thiophene HDS (2.8 MPa, 523–573 K) of sulfided Ni, Mo and Ni–Mo catalysts supported on alumina and on pure and phosphated niobia. From the XPS results, evidence was obtained for the formation of a surface niobium sulfide with stoichiometry close to NbS₂ during catalyst sulfidation. Sintering of supported nickel during sulfidation occurred to a much smaller extent with the niobia-supported catalysts than with the alumina-supported ones. The dispersion of alumina-supported molybdenum was little influenced by sulfidation, whereas, with the niobia supports, the molybdenum surface concentration increased with sulfidation. With the alumina support, the Ni–Mo combination caused the dispersion of the sulfided nickel to be improved, possibly due to formation of a NiMoS phase. This was not observed with the niobia-supported catalysts.

Reasonable linear correlations were also found between the intrinsic activity for cumene hydrocracking and the amount of sulfided niobium in the catalysts, but the catalysts supported on phosphated niobia had a higher intrinsic activity than the ones supported on pure niobia. In thiophene HDS, the activity of the niobia-supported nickel catalysts was much larger than the activity of the alumina-supported ones. The activity of the niobia-supported molybdenum catalysts was smaller than that of the alumina-supported catalyst. With the bimetallic catalysts, little or no synergy was observed with the niobia-supported catalysts, in sharp contrast with the alumina case.     

Hydrodesulfurization over intrazeolite molybdenum nitride clusters prepared by using hexacarbonyl molybdenum as a precursor

Metal nitride catalysts have received extensive attention because of their potential high performance for hydrodesulfurization (HDS). In the present study, highly dispersed Mo nitride clusters having a composition of Mo₂N are synthesized in zeolite pores by means of a CVD method using Mo(CO)₆ as a precursor. The catalytic properties of the molybdenum nitride catalysts for the HDS of thiophene are compared with that of an intrazeolite molybdenum sulfide catalyst. The molybdenum nitride catalyst shows a more stable thiophene HDS activity than the molybdenum sulfide catalyst. Molybdenum nitride clusters are only partially sulfided even after a prolonged HDS reaction.     

Effect of Modifiers on the Reactivity of Cr2O3/Al2O3 and Cr2O3/TiO2 Catalysts for the Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Propane

Chromium oxide supported on alumina and titania supports was modified with oxides of sodium, vanadium and molybdenum. The modified and unmodified chromium oxide catalysts were characterized by several techniques. The presence of surface chromium oxide and surface molybdenum and vanadium oxide species was detected in the unmodified and molybdenum and vanadium oxide modified supported chromium oxide catalysts. The reducibility (T_max and H/Cr ratio) of the surface chromium species was not affected for the vanadium and molybdenum oxide modified catalysts; however, the reducibility changed noticeably for sodium modified supported chromium oxide catalysts. Studies of the reactivity of the ODH of propane revealed the effect of modifiers on the reactivity properties of the surface chromium oxide species. The activity and propene selectivity decreased for sodium modified supported chromium oxide catalysts. However, the activity increased for vanadium oxide modified catalysts and was similar for molybdenum oxide modified catalysts irrespective of the support. The propene selectivity was higher for molybdenum oxide modified chromium oxide catalysts. However, the propene selectivity for vanadium oxide modified catalysts depends on the support since it appears that the inherent selectivity of the surface vanadium oxide species is reflected.     

Effect of fluorine on hydrogenation of cyclohexene on sulfided Ni (or Co)Mo/Al2O3 catalysts

The effect of fluorine incorporation on alumina support on the surface structure of unpromoted molybdenum, promoted cobalt—molybdenum and nickel—molybdenum catalysts, and their activity for hydrogenation of cyclohexene has been studied. The incorporation of 0.2 and 0.8 wt.-% fluorine on the alumina was carried out by impregnation with NH₄F solutions. The catalysts in the oxidic state were characterized by X-ray diffraction and ammonia adsorption and in the sulfide state by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and infra-red spectroscopy (IR) of adsorbed NO. The absence of significant changes in the binding energy values of Mo3d and Ni2p (or Co2p) levels in the XPS spectra of the fluorine-containing catalysts as compared to the fluorine-free counterpart does not support the existence of an electronic effect of fluorine. The quantitative XPS results showed, however, that fluorine clearly increases the dispersion of molybdenum and promoter, this being linearly correlated to surface fluorine content. The IR results of adsorbed NO also indicate that fluorine incorporation leads generally to minor sizes of MoS₂ slabs, and more exposed promoter atoms, except for the cobalt in the CoMo/F(0.2)A catalyst. It is suggested that the increase in the dispersion of the supported active phase is a secondary effect of fluorine incorporation, which may result from the observed textural changes of the alumina and its small partial solubilization provoked by NH₄F solution. It was found that the incorporation of fluorine enhances appreciably, moderately and considerably the hydrogenation activity of molybdenum, cobalt—molybdenum an nickel—molybdenum catalysts, respectively. Such increase in hydrogenation activity is not directly correlated to the exposed atoms probed by NO adsorption, and is only loosely related to molybdenum dispersion for the molybdenum and cobalt—molybdenum catalysts. The lack of similar reliable correlations for the nickel—molybdenum catalysts suggests that other structural parameters such as extent of reduction-sulfidation and certain configurations of molybdenum ions and sulfur vacancies may govern hydrogenation activity.     

Selektive Härtung von Fetten und Fettsäuren mit Sulfiden der Übergangsmetalle als Katalysatoren

Selective Hydrogenation of Fats and Fatty Acids with Sulfides of Transition Metals as Catalysts Sulfides of some transition metals are suitable as catalysts for the selective hydrogenation of fats and fatty acids. Ni₃S₂, a stoichiometrically, thermally and crystallographically defined compound is especially active. Also mixed catalysts containing tungsten sulfide and molybdenum sulfide besides Ni₃S₂ are sufficiently active. The same is true for cobalt sulfide catalysts, whereas molybdenum sulfide and tungsten sulfide exhibit considerably lower activities. The conditions of hydrogenation are essentially the same as customary: temperature range 180° to 210°C for fats, 200° to 220°C for fatty acids, hydrogen pressure 2–25 kg/cm², catalyst concentration 0.05 to 2 parts by weight of metal sulfide per 100 parts of fat or 0.5–5 parts by weight of metal sulfide per 100 parts of fatty acids. Using the above catalysts, the selectivity of S₃₁ or S₂₁ attained in the steps triene (polyene → monoene or diene → monoene is over 75. The remaining double bonds in the hydrogenated product possess almost exclusively the trans configuration. The above catalysts are resistant to sulfur compounds and they exhibit exceptional longevity. The regeneration can be performed with ease. Consequently, the pretreatment of the material to be hydrogenated can be limited to washing and drying.     

Hydrodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene over supported and unsupported molybdenum carbide catalysts

A series of γ-Al₂O₃ supported molybdenum carbides [carbided Mo/γ-Al₂O₃ (MCS), Co-Mo/γ-Al₂O₃ (CMCS), and Ni-Mo/γ-Al₂O₃ (NMCS)] and unsupported molybdenum carbide (MCUS) were prepared by the temperature-programmed carburization of their corresponding molybdenum nitrides with 20 % CH₄/H₂. XRD and SEM studies show that unsupported molybdenum carbide catalyst possesses a typical crystalline Mo₂C (FCC structure), while supported molybdenum carbide catalysts possess highly dispersed surface molybdenum carbide species on an alumina oxide support. The results of dibenzothiophene (DBT) hydrodesulfurization over molybdenum carbide catalysts show that the reactivity is strongly dependent on the type of catalyst. Supported molybdenum carbide catalysts possess a higher reactivity than the unsupported molybdenum carbide catalyst. In addition, Co or Ni promoted, supported molybdenum carbide catalyst possesses a higher reactivity than the unpromoted, supported molybdenum carbide catalyst. The reactivity, which is also dependent on the reaction conditions, increases with increasing reaction temperature and pressure and contact time. The CO uptakes of the molybdenum carbide catalysts correlate well with overall activity (total rate) for DBT hydrodesulfurization. The major reaction product is biphenyl, with cyclohexylbenzene next in abundance regardless of the type of catalysts and reaction conditions. It was also found that the molybdenum carbide catalysts exhibit stable initial reactivity due to the stable and weak acidic characteristics of these catalysts.     

On the role of the thermal treatment of sulfided Rh/CNT catalysts applied in the oxygen reduction reaction

Low loading sulfided rhodium catalysts supported on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were prepared from RhCl₃ by deposition–precipitation using hydrogen peroxide, followed by an exposure to hydrogen sulfide and an additional thermal treatment in the range from 400 °C to 900 °C. Hydrogen sulfide was generated online from hydrogen and sulfur vapor over molybdenum disulfide as catalyst. By elemental analysis, the Rh loading of the prepared catalysts was found to be 1.4–1.8 wt%. Morphology and composition of the resulting catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Nanoparticles were found to be highly dispersed on the CNTs with an average diameter as small as 1.0 nm determined by TEM. Sintering occurred during heat treatments at 650 °C and 900 °C in helium, as evidenced by XRD, TEM, and XPS. The treatment with hydrogen sulfide significantly enhanced the activity of the supported rhodium catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in hydrochloric acid, as determined by rotating disc electrode measurements. The sulfided catalyst annealed at 650 °C with a particle size of about 2.5 ± 1.0 nm showed the best performance for the ORR, which is discussed based on the presence of a more stable rhodium sulfide layer on the metallic rhodium particles.     

Nickel-containing catalysts for hydroprocessing of aromatic oils

A series of nickel-containing catalysts was prepared by a sequence of impregnation and calcining steps using a γ-alumina support. The calcined catalysts were reduced in a flow of hydrogen and mixtures of hydrogen with hydrogen sulfide. Both the calcining temperature and nickel loading strongly influenced the hydrogenation activity. The changes in surface species which resulted from some of the preparation steps were identified by spectroscopy. The catalysts containing nickel without molybdenum were quickly poisoned by sulfur, but a certa in sulfur tolerance was achieved by a two-step impregnation and calcining procedure. Improved hydrogenation activity and high hydrogenation vs. hydrocracking selectivity of nickel—molybdenum catalysts were obtained with relatively low loading of molybdenum and high loading of nickel. A three-step impregnation and calcining procedure appeared to produce the most effective catalysts.     

A role of molybdenum and shape selectivity of catalysts in simultaneous reactions of hydrocracking and hydrodesulfurization

The hydrocracking and hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of n-heptane containing 0.2 mole% dibenzothiophene (DBT) were performed simultaneously using NiPtMo catalysts supported on HZSM-5, LaY and γ-Al₂O₃ in a high pressure fixed bed reactor. Molybdenum played an important role in both hydrocracking and hydrodesulfurization (HDS). We found that the sulfur compound, dibenzothiophene (DBT). in the reactant was adsorbed on a molybdenum site and converted to hydrogen sulfide so that the active sites of the catalysts for hydrocracking were less poisoned by DBT and the conversion of n-heptane over molybdenum impregnated catalyst was higher than that over molybdenum-free catalyst. The crystal structures of the molybdenum supported on the zeolite and γ-Al₂O₃ were mainly MoO_2.5 (OH)_0.5[021] and MoO₃[210] respectively as shown by XRD analysis. The structure of MoO_2.5(OH)_0.5 was easily reduced to MoS₂[003] during the reaction. After the reaction of 100 hours over the catalyst supported on γ-Al₂O₃ the crystal structure of MoO₃[210] partially changed to MoO₃[300] and the structure of MoS₂[003] was not observed. Because of the reactant shape selectivity of zeolite, the acid and the metal sites in the intracrystalline of the catalysts supported on zeolites were less poisoned by DBT. Therefore, both hydrocracking and HDS using n-heptane containing 0.2 mole% of DBT were successfully demonstrated over the prepared catalysts.     

Modifications of Unpromoted and Cobalt-Promoted MoS2 During Thermal Treatment by Dimethylsulfide

Previous results have shown that the active surface in stabilized active sulfide catalysts is carbided. This fact led us to reconsider the influence of organosulfide agents in the activation of hydrotreatment catalysts. Structural and morphological consequences of dimethylsulfide treatment of (Co)/MoS₂-based solids were studied. Results suggest that the electronic promotion of Mo by Co substantially influences the carbon replacement of sulfur atoms at the edges of molybdenum sulfide layers.     

Nickel–molybdenum and cobalt–molybdenum sulfide hydrogenation and hydrodesulphurization catalysts synthesized in situ from bimetallic precursors

Unsupported nickel–molybdenum and cobalt–molybdenum sulfide catalysts are synthesized via the in situ decomposition of water-soluble bimetallic precursors in a hydrocarbon feedstock using nickel–molybdenum and cobalt–molybdenum complexes with citric, oxalic, succinic, glutaric, and tartaric acids as precursors. The sulfide catalysts are characterized by means of transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The catalyst activity in the hydrogenation of bicyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the hydrodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene is studied. The effect the composition of the precursor solution in the hydrocarbon feedstock emulsion has on the activity of the resulting catalyst is determined. It is shown that the activity reaches high values even after 1 h of reaction. The hydrogenation of mono-, di-, and trimethylnaphthalenes and ethylnaphthalene is studied. The optimum promoter-to-molybdenum ratio (0.25: 1) is found. It is shown that the catalyst activity does not fall during recycling, due to the elimination of the negative effect of water contained in the emulsion, which results in oxidation of the catalyst surface. After the second reaction cycle, the catalyst particles are longer and have a greater number of MoS₂ layers than the respective parameters of the catalyst particles after the first cycle. XPS shows that the content of oxygen on the catalyst’s surface falls during recycling, while the fraction of metals in the sulfide environment and the sulfur in the sulfide state grows.     

CoMoP/γ-Al_2O_3催化剂微观结构形成过程的研究

采用HRTEM、XRD、LRS研究不同金属含量CoMoP/γ-Al_2O_3催化剂。结果表明,硫化钼层数和尺寸与氧化态催化剂中金属的赋存状态有直接相关性。金属含量较低时,随金属含量增加,氧化态催化剂中金属颗粒尺寸和硫化态催化剂中硫化钼层数和尺寸均逐渐增加。金属含量较高时,氧化态催化剂中出现大颗粒的含钼氧化物,硫化态催化剂硫化钼层数和尺寸随金属含量增加变化不明显。     

Catalytic activity of hydrodesulfurization catalysts prepared by two methods

Two sets of samples, ranging from molybdenum sulfide to cobalt sulfide, were prepared by two different methods: homogeneous sulfide precipitation (HSP), and a new preparation method of CoMo and NiMo bulk sulfides, called impregnated thiosalt decomposition (ITD). Hydrodesulfurization of thiophene was measured at temperatures between 533 K and 593 K in a conventional flow system. The products were analyzed by gas chromatography. Both sets of samples (HSP and ITD) present the typical volcano curve of specific activity with larger values for catalysts prepared by HSP than those by ITD. Samples prepared by ITD present comparable intrinsic activities than those prepared by HSP. Activation energies for both methods of preparation are larger for promoted catalysts with a value of 23 for HSP and 12.6 kcal/mol for ITD.     

Liquid-phase catalytic oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids

Liquid-phase catalytic oxidation of oleic acid with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of various transition metal/metal oxide catalysts was studied in a batch autoclave reactor. Azelaic and pelargonic acids are the major reaction products. Tungsten and tantalum and their oxides in supported and unsupported forms were used as catalysts. Alumina pellets and Kieselguhr powder were used as supports for the catalysts. Tungsten, tantalum, molybdenum, zirconium, and niobium were also examined as catalysts. Tertiary butanol was used as solvent. Experimental results concluded that tungsten and tungstic oxide are more suitable catalysts in terms of their activity and selectivity. The rate of reaction observed in the case of supported catalysts appears to be comparable or superior to that of unsupported catalysts. In pure form, tungsten, tantalum, and molybdenum showed strong catalytic activity in the oxidation reaction; however, except for tantalum the other two were determined to be economically unfeasible. Zirconium and niobium showed very little catalytic activity. Based on the experimental observations, tungstic oxide supported on silica is the most suitable catalyst for the oxidation of oleic acid with 85% of the starting oleic acid converted to the oxidation products in 60 min of reaction with high selectivity for azelaic acid.     

Alumina-, niobia-, and niobia/alumina-supported NiMoS catalysts: Surface properties and activities in the hydrodesulfurization of thiophene and hydrodenitrogenation of 2,6-dimethylaniline

The activity of NiMoS catalysts supported on niobia, alumina, and niobia/alumina was compared for the thiophene hydrodesulfurization (HDS) and 2,6-dimethylaniline (2,6-DMA) hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) reactions. To evaluate the acidity of the supports and identify the nature of the sulfide sites, adsorption of 2,6-dimethylpyridine, pyridine, and CO was performed and followed by IR spectroscopy. This study has shown that with niobia as a support, the activity of NiMoS catalysts in thiophene HDS and in HDN of 2,6-DMA was no longer promoted by the synergy between Ni and Mo. The absence of synergy between molybdenum and nickel on niobia can be explained by the strong interaction of each metal with niobia at the expense of interaction with each other. Moreover, it has been shown that on a niobia/alumina support, the formation of the NiMoS phase can be directly linked to the presence of alumina not covered by niobia. However, niobia is an interesting support for the HDN of 2,6-DMA, because it favors the formation of xylene through direct ammonia elimination involving low H₂ consumption. The activity for xylene formation on niobia is linked to the electron-deficient nature of the Mo sulfide site, as demonstrated by CO adsorption followed by IR.     

烯烃环氧化钼系催化剂的多相化研究进展

介绍了以有机聚合物和无机硅酸盐为载体，负载钼催化剂及其对烯烃环氧化反应催化性能的研究进展；分析了硼酸树脂、乙烯-丙烯橡胶、螯合树脂、苯并吡咯树脂、聚酰亚胺树脂、聚硅氧烷树脂、阳离子交换树脂和聚苯乙烯等有机聚合物为载体的研究情况；评价了以无机硅酸盐为载体，采用溶胶-凝胶、离子交换、同晶取代等方法负载钼对催化性能的影响；展望了多相化烯烃环氧化钼系催化剂的发展前景。     

Hydrodesulfurization of thiophene on carbon nanofiber supported Co/Ni/Mo catalysts

Co, Mo, NiMo and CoMo catalysts supported on alumina, fishbone and platelet carbon nanofibers (CNFs) have been prepared. The dispersion of the oxide phases was qualitatively studied and compared using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The reducibility of the catalysts was studied by temperature programmed reduction (TPR). Hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of thiophene was used as a model reaction to compare the activity of different catalysts. The activity tests showed that the alumina supported catalysts exhibited higher activity compared to the corresponding CNF supported catalysts, and the NiMo catalysts were more active than the corresponding CoMo catalysts. The thiophene HDS activity was correlated with the dispersion of the molybdenum species and the reducibility of different catalysts. Interestingly, the CNF supported Co catalysts have higher thiophene HDS activity than the CNF supported Co(Ni)Mo catalysts.