Zirconia- and alumina-supported molybdenum-based catalysts: a comparative study in hydrodesulfurization and hydrogenation reactions

Abstract Mo and NiMo catalysts supported on stabilized zirconia and on alumina have been prepared and characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and high resolution electron microscopy (HREM). The catalytic properties have been evaluated in hydrodesulfurization and hydrogenation reactions. By comparison to Al 2 O 3 supported samples, the higher activities observed for the zirconia supported catalysts have been related to the morphology of the sulfide phase. It is suggested that on zirconia the promoted sites are more numerous, easily formed (type II ‘NiMoS’ phase) and probably more accessible to the reactant molecules.