Performance of Ni-rich bimetallic phosphides on simultaneous quinoline hydrodenitrogenation and dibenzothiophene hydrodesulfurization

Abstract A series of Ni-rich bimetallic phosphides incorporating different metals were successfully prepared by initial wetness impregnation, followed by temperature-programmed reduction. Catalyst characterization indicates that the bulk structure and physical properties maintained after adding 2.5 mol% another metal on Ni 2 P. Electron transfer from the second metal to Ni was found on Mo 0.05 Ni 1.95 P, Co 0.05 Ni 1.95 P, and Fe 0.05 Ni 1.95 P, except on W 0.05 Ni 1.95 P. Simultaneous hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) of quinoline and hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of dibenzothiophene (DBT) over phosphides and a commercial metal sulfide were studied at 320–380 °C, 3 MPa, weight hourly space velocity of 6 h − 1 , and H 2 /feed ratio of 500:1. Metal phosphides show higher HDN of quinoline and the same HDS of dibenzothiophene activities than that of a commercial catalyst at 380 °C. Mo 0.05 Ni 1.95 P shows the best performance and lowest N and S content adsorbed on the catalyst, due to the active M(2) sites. HDS conversion and product selectivities are seriously impacted by the adsorption of N-containing compounds on active sites of catalysts. Increasing temperature to 360 °C or/and decreasing N content to less than 1000 ppm quinoline in the feed are suggested to obtain simultaneous efficient removal of N and S.