Preparation of high surface area rhenium sulfide hydrodesulfurization catalysts, and their use

摘要

This invention relates to a process for the preparation of high surface area rhenium sulfide hydrodesulfurization catalysts and to a process of using such catalysts for hydrotreating, particularly hydrodesulfurizing heavy hydrocarbons. The catalysts may be supported during use. They are preferably made by passing H₂S through an aqueous solution of either NH₄ReO₄ or Re₂O₇ which contains an acidic buffer maintaining its pH between 4.0 and 4.5, heating the thus-treated solution, separating the resulting precipitate and contacting the washed and dried precipitate with substantially pure H₂S at 425 to 725°C to form the rhenium sulfide.