Hydrodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene on monometallic and bimetallic catalysts (Mo; MoNi) supported on mesoporous MCM-41

Sulfided catalysts mono- and bimetallic (Mo; MoNi)/MCM-41 at different temperatures sulfurization and nickel mass percentages were prepared by direct sulphidation with elemental sulfur. The catalytic activity was evaluated in the hydrodesulfuration reaction of dibenzothiophene, through a continuous flow system and a fixed bed at 350 °C, obtaining a maximum conversion of 62 and 56 [%] for catalysts MoNiS2/MCM-41 and MoS2/MCM-41 sulfur at 250 °C. The catalysts were characterized using X-Ray Diffraction and Surface Area, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and chemical analysis by Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX). The XRD showed the monometallic catalysts supported for the absence of signals from the crystalline phase of molybdenum sulfide, which could indicate that this phase is highly dispersed, crystalline domains with sizes below the limit detectable by this technique. In the patterns of the bimetallic catalysts, the signals corresponding to Ni3S2 and NiSO4(H2O) are observed. The surface area analysis performed showed a decrease in the surface area of the mono and bimetallic catalysts, compared to MCM-41 support. Characterization by SEM, showed the characteristic morphology of the mesoporous MCM-41, which remains unchanged even after the introduction of the active phases Mo and Ni. The EDX results show the low distribution uniformity of the metallic and sulfided phases.