Novel method to synthesize Ni2P/SBA-15 adsorbents for the adsorptive desulfurization of model diesel fuel

SBA-15 supported nickel phosphide particles with high dispersion were successfully synthesized by using deposition-precipitation method to introduce the Ni source. Strong interaction between the Ni precursor and SBA-15 support could form and prevent the precursor migration. So the deposition-precipitation method could lead to the infiltration within the pore walls of SBA-15 and thus very uniform dispersion of Ni source over the SBA-15 support. After temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) of the phosphate precursor, the nickel phosphide particles with high dispersion were obtained. The pore channel of the SBA-15 support could stabilize the Ni2P particles, preventing sintering after the high reduction temperature and shaping their morphology. The total sulfur capacity over Ni2P/SBA-15 is approximately 1 times higher than over the reference sample. Differences in selectivity to sulfur compound were observed for Ni2P/SBA-15 adsorbents with different loading. The selectivity to sulfur compound for Ni2P/SBA-15 adsorbent is correlated with the particle size of Ni2P crystallites. The synthesis of small Ni2P crystallite is promising for novel Ni2P-based adsorbent. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.