Zinc Incorporated Hydroxyapatite Catalysts: Preparation and Characterization

Ca-hydroxyapatite was freshly prepared by precipitation method and used as a support material for preparing zinc catalysts. The catalysts were prepared by two different techniques: incipient impregnation and ionic exchange. The freshly prepared zinc catalysts were characterized via X-ray diffraction pattern, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimeter, and thermo-gravimetric analysis. The replacement of Ca2+ by Zn2+ for the catalyst prepared by the ionic exchange method and the formation of Zn oxide species after impregnation were confirmed by X-ray diffraction patterns. The evaluation of the catalytic activity of Zn-hydroxyapatite catalysts were investigated toward oxidative desulphurization reaction of gas oil. The results show that the sulfur removal reached 88.5 wt% over ionic exchanged zinc catalyst under mild conditions.