Hydrodesulfurization of thiophene over synthetic cobalt-containing smectite-like mesoporous materials

Mesoporous smectite-like materials containing cobalt, SM(Co), were synthesi zed by a hydrothermal method under different conditions. The materials were used as catalysts for hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of thiophene. The SM(Co) sample is a new type of active HDS catalyst. The activity depends on the sy nthetic conditions used, but the product distribution does not change so mu ch, giving trans-2-butene, cis-2-butene, and 1-butene with a minor product of n-butane. The high HDS activity of SM(Co) samples may be explained by hi gher degrees of cobalt dispersion due to the method of preparation used. In addition, the treatment of SM(Co) samples with ammonia solution is effecti ve in enhancing their HDS activities, in particular for originally less act ive ones. The treatment removes Na+ species involved and this may suppress structural changes of SM(Co) samples by HDS reactions. The ammonia-treated samples maintain high surface area and include much lower concentrations of Na+ species, which would have a negative effect on the activity, and so th ey indicate enhanced HDS activity. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All right s reserved.