Transition metal phosphides show excellent promise for heteroatom removal reactions and the most active phosphides have exhibited higher hydrodesulfurization (HDS) and hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) activities than commercial sulfided Co-Mo/Al2O3 and Ni-Mo/Al2O3 catalysts. Among metal phosphide catalysts, oxide-supported nickel phosphide (e.g. Ni2P/SiO2) has demonstrated particularly strong potential, but the role of particle size in determining hydrotreating activity and selectivity is not well understood. Using mesoporous silica encapsulated nanoparticles ( Ni2P@mSiO2) prepared by solution phase methods and Ni2P/SiO2 catalysts prepared by temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), the deep HDS properties of Ni2P have been probed over the 3-16 nm size range. The catalysts have been characterized by a range of methods including transmission electron microscopy (TEM), CO chemisorption and infrared spectroscopy, while the HDS of 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT) was used to investigate catalytic properties. HDS measurements were carried out using a model feed of 1000 ppm 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT) in decalin over the temperature range 513-573 K. A strong dependence of HDS activity on Ni2P particle size was observed, with the smallest particles exhibiting the highest activities. The correlation of 4,6-DMDBT HDS activity and selectivity with particle size, surface area and CO chemisorption capacity will be discussed.

Probing the role of particle size in nickel phosphide hydrotreating catalysts

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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