Catalytic properties in hydrogenation and hydrodesulphurization reactions of ruthenium sulphide solid solutions containing iron,cobalt or nickel

Solid solutions M_xRu_1–xS₂ (M = Ni, Co, Fe) were prepared by sulphidation of mixtures of hydroxides at 673 K; their crystallographic properties were studied by X-ray diffraction. These new materials present interesting properties in biphenyl hydrogenation and in thiophene hydrodesulphurization. The catalytic properties are strongly dependent on the nature of the metal associated to ruthenium. Cobalt-ruthenium catalysts present a good activity for hydrodesulphurization but very low activity for hydrogenation, iron catalysts exhibit low activity for both reactions, and nickel catalysts possess remarkable properties in hydrogenation and hydrodesulphurization (twice the activity of pure ruthenium sulphide). A comparison has been established with the properties of molybdenum sulphide catalysts promoted by the same elements.