Reactivity of cyclohexene using ordered mesoporous materials based on calcined CoFeAl hydrotalcite-supported CoMo catalysts

Co2+, Fe3+ and Al3+ tertiary hydrotalcite-type solids were synthesized, calcined and impregnated with Mo (15 wt% MoO3) and Co (3Mo:Co) in order to get different catalytic precursors: CoMo/CoFeAl. As-synthesized hydrotalcites and their catalytic precursors were characterized by different physicochemical techniques, such as: X-ray fluorescence, N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms (BET specific surface area, BJH pore volume and diameter), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and temperature-programmed desorption of carbon dioxide. These CoMo/CoFeAl catalytic precursors were previously pre-sulfided with CS2 and tested in the cyclohexene hydrogenation reaction. Results indicated that these sulfide catalysts showed very low activity in comparison with the conventional CoMo/Al2O3 catalyst used as reference, possibly to their high basicity. These catalysts could have the advantage of retaining the octane number of gasoline, by low hydrogenation of olefins.