Reduced Molybdenum States in Hydrodesulfurization: Investigations Using Chevrel Phase Catalysts

摘要

A series of reduced molybdenum sulfides known as Chevrel phases were used as catalysts for thiophene hydrodesulfurization and were determined to have desulfurization activities comparable to model molybdenum sulfide catalysts. Cobalt, iron, copper, and holmium ternary compounds were prepared with unusual promotional activity for holmium and copper. Hydrogenation and cracking activities of all Chevrel phase catalysts were observed to be very low. Characterization by x-ray diffraction, laser Raman spectroscopy, and XPS demonstrated that the catalysts were stable under reaction conditions. Oxidation states for molybdenum less than that for MoS sub 2 were detected. (ERA citation 09:033821)