Activity of CoMo/MSA Catalysts in Benzothiophene Hydrodesulfurization, Cumene Cracking and Cyclohexene is Omerization

The mesoporous silica-alumina (SA) was modified by acid leaching and studied as an alternative support for Mo and CoMo catalysts for hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of benzothiophene. The supports were characterized by N 2 adsorption, XRD, 27AL MAS NMR, electron microscopy (SEM, HRTEM) and their acidity were compared in cyclohexene isomerization and cumene cracking. The composition of catalysts were determined by ICP. Progressive leaching of the parent SA containing 52 wt.% Al2O3 (SA52) led to decrease of Al2O3 content (33 and 19 wt.% in MSA33 and MSA19 support, respectively). This decrease was accompanied with an increase of the BET surface area and exposition of strong acidity. The acid leaching positively affected the activities of the sulfided CoMo catalysts in the benzothiophene HDS, which were slightly above the activity of an industrial reference CoMo catalyst supported on gamma-Al2O3.