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Hierarchical Structure of NiMo Hydrodesulfurization Catalysts Determined by Ptychographic X‐Ray Computed Tomography
Author(s) -
Ihli Johannes,
Bloch Leonid,
Krumeich Frank,
Wakonig Klaus,
Holler Mirko,
GuizarSicairos Manuel,
Weber Thomas,
Silva Julio Cesar,
Bokhoven Jeroen Anton
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.202008030
Subject(s) - hydrodesulfurization , catalysis , molybdenum , materials science , chemical engineering , porosity , sulfur , matrix (chemical analysis) , metal , composite material , chemistry , metallurgy , organic chemistry , engineering
Hydrodesulphurization, the removal of sulphur from crude oils, is an essential catalytic process in the petroleum industry safeguarding the production of clean hydrocarbons. Sulphur removal is critical for the functionality of downstream processes and vital to the elimination of environmental pollutants. The effectiveness of such an endeavour is among other factors determined by the structural arrangement of the heterogeneous catalyst. Namely, the accessibility of the catalytically active molybdenum disulphide (MoS 2 ) slabs located on the surfaces of a porous alumina carrier. Here, we examined a series of pristine sulfided Mo and NiMo hydrodesulphurization catalysts of increasing metal loading prepared on commercial alumina carriers using ptychographic X‐ray computed nanotomography. Structural analysis revealed a build consisting of two interwoven support matrix elements differing in nanoporosity. With increasing metal loading, approaching that of industrial catalysts, these matrix elements exhibit a progressively dissimilar MoS 2 surface coverage as well as MoS 2 cluster formation at the matrix element boundaries. This is suggestive of metal deposition limitations and/ or catalyst activation and following prohibitive of optimal catalytic utilization. These results will allow for diffusivity calculations, a better rationale of current generation catalyst performance as well as a better distribution of the active phase in next‐generation hydrodesulphurization catalysts.