CHARACTERISTICS OF INTERMETALLIC NDNI5 AS AN UNSUPPORTED CATALYST IN THIOPHENE HYDRODESULFURIZATION

A systematic research is carried out on intermetallic NdNi5 for the hy drodesulfurization (HDS) of thiophene. The effect of calcination and p resulfidation of intermetallic NdNi5 on thiophene HDS was examined and property changes of the catalyst during calcination, presulfidation, and reaction were observed by XRD, SEM, and surface area techniques. T he intermetallic compound of NdNi5 is disintegrated to fine powder and recrystallized to Nd/Ni oxide and sulfide by calcination, presulfidat ion, and reaction. A model for the surface area increase of the cataly st during calcination, presulfidation, and reaction was proposed and t he role of neodymium was explained.