Simultaneous hydrodesulfurization of benzothiophene and dibenzothiophene over CoMo/Al2O3 catalysts with different [Co/(Co + Mo)] ratios

A series of CoMo/γ-Al2O3 catalysts was prepared with [Co/(Co + Mo)] ratios of 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 while maintaining a total metal content of 19 wt%. These catalysts were tested in a batch autoclave reactor after presulfiding with the objective of studying the influence of Co/(Co + Mo) ratio on the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) pathways of benzothiophene (BT) and dibenzothiophene (DBT). The results of this study have clearly demonstrated that the Co/Co + Mo ratio has a significant influence on the overall HDS of BT and DBT as well on the direct desulfurization (DDS) pathway, but showed no influence on the hydrogenation pathway. A Co/Co + Mo ratio of 0.4 was found to be optimum for both overall HDS as well as the HDS by DDS pathway.