Synthesis of a Ni2P catalyst supported on anatase–TiO2 whiskers with high hydrodesulfurization activity, based on triphenylphosphine

•Anatase-TiO2 whiskers supported Ni2P catalyst was synthetized by using PPh3.•The structure of anatase-TiO2 whiskers unchanged and suppressed formation of TiPO4.•The catalyst Ni2P–PPh3 showed higher HDS activity than that of the Ni2P–TPR.

A solution method for preparing a Ni2P catalyst supported on anatase–TiO2 whiskers (Ni2P–PPh3) based on low cost triphenylphosphine (PPh3) is described. This approach suppressed the formation of the TiPO4 phase. The synthesis temperature is modest (603 K). The Ni2P–PPh3 catalyst did not modify the anatase–TiO2 phase in any way, and it showed much higher hydrodesulfurization activity than the same catalyst prepared by the conventional TPR method.

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