Effectiveness of Mo-Ni sulfide clusters in the preparation of zeolite-supported hydrodesulfurization catalysts

The molybdenum sulfide cluster [Mo3S4(H2O)(9)](4+) (1) and the nickel-molybdenum bimetallic sulfide cluster [Mo3NiS4Cl(H(2)0)(9)](3+) (2) were incorporated into zeolites NaY, HUSY, KL, NaMOR and NaH beta by aqueous ion-exchange, The catalysts supported on KL and NaMOR exhibited a higher activity for hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of benzothiophene than catalysts supported on other zeolites. Nickel incorporation into Mo/zeolite catalysts enhanced the HDS activity remarkably. ?he catalysts prepared by ion-exchanging zeolites with 2 were more active in the HDS reaction than the catalysts prepared by ion-exchanging 1/zeolite with nickel nitrate solution; the presence of the Mo-S-Ni linkage in 2 will be effective for producing active HDS species. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.