Carbon a support for sulfide catalysts

Two types of carbon materials, carbon black composite and carbon covered alumina, were studied for-their use as support for sulfide catalysts. The following parameters were varied: type of carbon black, carbon coverage of the alumina and carbon pretreatment. Pore size distributions were determined for all carbon supports. Thermo Gravimetric Analysis was used to study the oxygen functional groups on the carbon surface. The carbon supports demonstrated outstanding textural properties. VariGus oxidation treatments were applied to modify the carbon surface affinity towards deposited active phase, thus creating optimal dispersion of the Mo(Co) phase. The activities of sulfided Mo on carbon black composites and Co on carbon covered alumina catalysts for thiophene hydrodesulfurization were studied using a flow microreactor operating at atmospheric pressure. A comparison is made with Mo and Co catalysts supported on activated carbon and alumina.