Effect of 2,6-Bis-(1-hydroxy-1,1-diphenyl-methyl) Pyridine as Organic Additive in Sulfide NiMoP/γ-Al(2)O(3) Catalyst for Hydrodesulfurization of Straight-Run Gas Oil

The effect of 2,6-bis-(1-hydroxy-1,1-diphenyl-methyl) pyridine (BDPHP) in the preparation of NiMoP/γ-Al(2)O(3) catalysts have been investigated in the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of straight-run gas oil. The γ-Al(2)O(3) support was modified by surface impregnation of a solution of BDPHP to afford BDPHP/Ni molar ratios (0.5 and 1.0) in the final composition. The highest activity for NiMoP materials was found when the molar ratio of BDPHP/Ni was of 0.5. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results revealed that NiMoP (0.5) showed better dispersion of MoO(3) than the NiMoP (1.0). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) results indicated that the organic additive interacts with the γ-Al(2)O(3) surface and therefore discards the presence of Mo or Ni complexes. Raman spectroscopy suggested a high Raman ratio for the NiMoP (0.5) sample. The increment of the Mo=O species is related to a major availability of Mo species in the formation of MoS(2). The temperature programmed reduction (TPR) results showed that the NiMoP (0.5) displayed moderate metal–support interaction. Likewise, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) exhibited higher sulfurization degree for NiMoP (0.5) compared with NiMoP (1.0). The increment of the MoO(3) dispersion, the moderate metal–support interaction, the increase of sulfurization degree and the increment of Mo=O species provoked by the BDPHP incorporation resulted in a higher gas oil HDS activity.