DESULFURACION OXIDATIVA DE ORGANOAZUFRADOS CON CATALIZADORES DE ORO Y PLATA SOPORTADOS EN OXIDO DE TITANIO OXIDESULFURIZATION OF ORGANOSULFUR COMPOUNDS WITH GOLD AND SILVER CATALYSTS SUPPORTED ON TITANIA

Gold and silver nanoparticles supported on TiO2, with several metal loadings, were tested as catalysts in the oxidesulfurization (ODS) of organosulfur compounds. The catalysts were prepared by deposition precipitation method, and characterized by electron microscopy (TEM and HRTEM) to obtain the average particle size and the morphology of metal particles, and by EDS to evaluate metal loading on the support. Results show that gold and silver nanoparticles highly dispersed on the TiO2 surface are active in ODS of organosulfur compounds. The catalytic performance of gold and silver nanoparticles was different. For silver catalysts, it is propose that the better-crystallized particles are more active when the temperature of thermal treatment is increased and sulfone production is improved. For gold catalysts, the sulfone production is improved at low temperature of thermal treatment.