A new synthesis of highly active Ni2P/Al2O3 catalyst by liquid phase phosphidation for deep hydrodesulfurization

A nickel phosphide (Ni2P) catalyst supported on gamma-Al2O3 was successfully synthesized by a liquid phase phosphidation (LP) in the presence of trioctylphosphine and trioctylphosphine oxide. Characterizations were made by BET, CO uptake, TPR, Al-27-NMR, and EXAFS spectroscopy, which revealed that the Ni2P phase remained stable during reaction without the formation of AlPO4 phase. The Ni2P/Al2O3-LP catalyst gave a good and stable activity with a 4,6-DMDBT HDS conversion of 99% at 573 K and 3.1 MPa, which was much higher than the Ni2P/Al2O3-HT catalyst (HDS conversion of 45%) prepared by the conventional temperature-programmed reduction method. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.