Enhanced Performance for Thiolation of Dimethyl Sulfide to Methanethiol over Al 2 O 3 ‐Supported HPW Catalysts

In this research, conversion of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and hydrogen sulfide to methanethiol (MT) in the presence of Al 2 O 3 supported HPW catalysts has been investigated. The catalyst characterization shows that Al 2 O 3 supported HPW catalyst has the improved surface acidity of Lewis acid sites and uniform distribution of W species, which in turn enhances the catalytic performance. The supported HPW catalysts show better catalytic activity during thiolation of DMS to MT, and 5 wt.% HPW is the optimum concentration in promoting the DMS thiolation, attaining approximately 20‐degree lower initial reaction temperature than Al 2 O 3 . Moreover, a small amount of residual CS 2 is acceptable for methionine chemical company for the sake of cost control. A mechanism of the enhanced DMS conversion at the catalyst surface is proposed: First H 2 S and DMS are adsorbed on lattice oxygen O 2− . Then the main reaction occurs between CH 3 S−M and HO‐ M−O groups to form CH 3 SH.