Single-pot synthesis of Ti-SBA-15-NiMo hydrodesulfurization catalysts: Role of calcination temperature on dispersion and activity

Saheed A. Ganiyu, Khalid Alhooshani, Syed Ahmed Ali

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

69 Scopus citations

Abstract

A novel approach was systematically investigated for developing single-pot (SP) NiMo-supported Ti-SBA-15 catalysts for hydrodesulfurization (HDS). The technical challenge associated with the SP approach is the formation of crystalline NiMoO4, and this was avoided by reducing the calcination temperature of the oxide catalyst from 550 °C to 300 °C to form a highly dispersed and efficient HDS catalyst. The dispersion, textural properties, surface acidity, oxide reducibility, surface chemical and elemental compositions of developed catalysts were measured by XRD, Raman spectroscopy, N2-physisorption, and temperature-programmed techniques (TPR and TPD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) were employed as additional characterization methods to investigate the catalysts’ morphology and microstructure. Catalyst performance was evaluated in a batch autoclave reactor using a simulated feed containing 2500 parts per million sulfur (ppm-S) (dibenzothiophene, DBT) in dodecane. The catalyst prepared by the SP approach and calcined at a lower temperature (300 °C) showed significantly improved HDS activity and direct desulfurization selectivity compared to the catalyst prepared by the conventional impregnation approach. An increase in the calcination temperature to 550 °C, however, resulted in a decrease in the HDS activity of the catalysts prepared by both methods. The dispersion, surface acidity, and textural properties of the catalysts prepared using the SP method combine to improve the catalytic efficiency. The use of a complexing agent to aid the dispersion of the active phase was unnecessary when the SP method was used for catalyst preparation.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)428-441
Number of pages14
JournalAPPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL
Volume203
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 21 2016
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2022-06-03
Acknowledgements: The authors acknowledged the support provided by King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) for funding this work through project No. DSR NUS15105. Authors would like to acknowledge the efforts of Dr. Osama Shekhah of Advanced Membranes and Porous Materials center (AMPM), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) for providing HRTEM images.
This publication acknowledges KAUST support, but has no KAUST affiliated authors.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Environmental Science
  • Catalysis
  • Process Chemistry and Technology

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