Rhodium phosphide catalyst for hydrodesulfurization: Low temperature synthesis by sodium addition

• Na addition enhanced the reducibility of phosphates.
• Rh2P was more easily formed on NaMFI support than that on HMFI support.
• High HDS activity was observed in Rh–P/NaMFI catalyst reduced at low temperature.
• Rh–P/NaMFI catalyst showed higher HDS activity than Rh–P/HMFI catalyst.

Effect of sodium (Na) addition on rhodium phosphide (Rh2P) formation on MFI zeolite, SiO2 and Al2O3 and hydrodesulfurization (HDS) activity were examined. The TPR results revealed that Na addition enhanced reducibility of phosphates. The XRD results indicated that Rh2P phase was easily formed on NaMFI support as compared with on HMFI support. The maximum HDS activity of Rh–P/NaMFI catalyst was obtained at lower reduction temperature and this activity was higher than that of Rh–P/HMFI catalyst. We concluded that since Na would weaken interaction between Al and phosphate, high HDS activity of Rh–P/NaMFI catalyst was observed at lower reduction temperature.

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