Application Of Hierarchically Macro-/Mesoporous Structured Metal Oxides To Hydrodesulfurization Of Dibenzothiophene

Hierarchically macro-/mesoporous structured Al2O3and TiO2-AlO3supports were prepared by alkoxide hydrolysis method, particle template method and sol-gel method. Ni-Mo/Al2O3and Ni-Mo/TiO2-Al2O3catalysts were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation method, and applied to hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of dibenzothiophene. Catalyst characterization clearly showed that the as-prepared macropopous catalysts possessed monolithic macrochannels and the walls separating the macropores consisted of accessible mesopores. The hierarchically porous Ni-Mo/Al2O3catalyst exhibited much higher activities in dibenzothiophene HDS than the Ni-Mo/Al2O3catalyst without the macroporous structure. The HDS activities of the catalysts decreased with the addition of titanium in the catalyst support. Moreover, the catalysts without presulfurization treatment showed lower HDS activities. The Ni-Mo/Al2O3catalyst prepared by particle template and sol-gel methods showed higher HDS activity. Finally, the intrinsic kinectics of dibenzothiophene was investigated.