CoMo Bimetallic Nitride Catalysts for Thiophene HDS

Abstract

CoMo bimetallic nitride catalysts were prepared by temperature-programmed reduction of CoMo oxides with flowing ammonia, and the effects of cobalt addition on the thiophene hydrodesulfurization (HDS) reaction were investigated. MoO3 transformed into Mo2N, while cobalt oxide was just reduced to Co metal rather than Co nitride. When Co was added to Mo, the surface area decreased significantly but the new bimetallic nitride phase of Co3Mo3N was produced. The addition of Co could improve the HDS conversion, and the high specific activity of the bimetallic nitride catalyst was believed to be related with the new Co3Mo3N phase.