D.H. Broderick

Hydrodesulfurization of methyl-substituted dibenzothiophenes catalyzed by Co-Mo/gamma-Al2O3

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Hydrogenation of aromatic compounds catalyzed by sulfided CoOMoO3γ-Al2O3

Abstract Hydrogenation of aromatic compounds catalyzed by sulfided CoOMoO 3 γ- Al 2 O 3 was investigated with batch and flow reactors at 275–350 °C and pressures near 100 atm. The reactants included benzene, biphenyl, dibenzothiophene, naphthalene, 2-phenylnaphthalene, and benzo-[ b ]naphtho[2,3- d ]thiophene. The reactivity for ring saturation was about an order of magnitude greater for the latter three [(substituted) naphthalenes] than for the others [(substituted) benzenes]. Sulfur in a reactant molecule slightly increased the reactivity of a neighboring ring for hydrogenation. Dibenzothiophene hydrogenation was not inhibited by H 2 S, but biphenyl hydrogenation was moderately inhibited by H 2 S and dibenzothiophene hydrogenolysis was strongly inhibited by H 2 S. These and other results suggest that the reactant to be hydrogenated is π-bonded at exposed Mo cations, where H 2 S undergoes weak competitive adsorption and bases like acridine undergo strong competitive adsorption.