Supported on alumina Co-Mo hydrotreating catalysts: Dependence of catalytic and strength characteristics on the initial AlOOH particle morphology

•The morphology of the initial AlOOH defines the strength and textural characteristics of the catalysts.•Catalysts were prepared using bimetallic complexes with citrate ligands.•Sulphided active component with similar morphology and composition was obtained in all the catalysts.•The optimal material for the preparation of supports and catalysts is boehmites with 150 nm × 8 nm × 8 nm needles.

The influence of different initial AlOOH boehmites on the mechanical strength, textural characteristics, and activity of diesel fuel hydrotreating catalysts has been studied. The morphology of the initial AlOOH particles was shown to have no significant influence on the composition and structure of the Co-Mo-S phase, although it does fully define the mechanical strength and textural characteristics of the catalysts. An optimal combination of high mechanical strength and catalytic activity, which depends on a texture of the catalyst, is attained using initial boehmite with a needle-shaped particle morphology and a particle size of 150 nm × 8 nm × 8 nm.

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