A MICROSTRUCTURAL INVESTIGATION OF MODEL SOLID-STATE HYDRODESULFURIZATION CATALYSTS

Model molybdenum disulfide-based solid state synthesis catalysts have been prepared and tested catalytically in the HDS of thiophene. Both promoted and sulfur-deficient samples were prepared and the kinetic analyses were done at temperatures ranging from 473-673 K and atmospheric pressure. Structural characterization was carried out using X-ray diffraction and analytical and high resolution electron microscopy. The results indicate that the active catalysts possess a high degree of disorder in the (1010), (1011), (1012) directions, which represent the edges of the MoS2 crystal. This work also establishes that both Group VIII promotion and sulfur deficiency lead to similar structural changes in the molybdenum sulfide lattice of this specific solid state system. These structural traits can be correlated with increased HDS activity. © 1990.