12-Tungstophosphoric heteropolyacid supported on modified SBA-15 as catalyst in HDS of thiophene

NiW catalysts have been synthesized by loading a Ni salt of the 12-tungstophosphoric heteropolyacid (H3PW12O40) on Al-, Ti- and W- modified SBA-15. The supports and catalysts are characterized by BET, XRD, IR, DRS, TPR and TPD of NH3. Results from XRD and IR measurements confirm the hexagonally ordered mesoporous structure and incorporation of Al, Ti and W into the SBA-15 support. It was found that incorporation of Ti- or W- into the SBA-15 structure increases the reducibility of NiW catalysts. The catalysts are tested in the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) reaction of thiophene. The NiW catalyst supported on W- containing SBA-15 showed higher performance in the HDS of thiophene as compared to the SBA-15 modified with Al and Ti.