Preparation of MoS2 and WS2 catalysts by in situ decomposition of ammonium thiosalts

The in situ decomposition of ammonium thiometallates during the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of dibenzothiophene (DBT), to obtain molybdenum disulfide and tungsten disulfide catalysts, was investigated. It was found that very efficient catalysts for the HDS of DBT were obtained by in situ decomposition. Mechanical uniaxial pressing of the precursors (ammonium thiometallates) affected both textural and catalytic properties of the catalysts. Surface areas of molybdenum and tungsten disulfides increased as a function of uniaxial pressing, while catalytic activities went through a maximum. For MoS₂, the hydrogenation selectivity was much higher for in situ catalysts than for ex situ ones. For WS₂ catalysts, the hydrogenation selectivity was less sensitive to the condition of decomposition (ex situ/in situ). The surface S/M (M = Mo, W) atomic ratio from the Auger signal decreased as a function of uniaxial pressing, while the C/M ratio remained almost constant at 1.6. The best catalyst showed an experimental S/Mo ratio that is slightly higher than the stoichiometric value. The effect of in situ decomposition and mechanical deformation of thiometallate precursors is discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.