Hydrodesulfurization cobalt-based catalysts modified by gold

Cobalt catalysts supported on amorphous SiO2 and ordered mesoporous silica (MCM-41) were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation. Gold was added by consecutive impregnation or by co-impregnation. The materials were characterised by XPS, XRD and TPR techniques and evaluated in the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of thiophene in order to investigate the effect of the noble metal on the structure and on the catalytic behaviour of the supported cobalt. Co/MCM-41 exhibited higher HDS activity and higher stability than the Co/SiO2. Moreover, in contrast to silica case, the gold impregnated MCM-41, produced an enhancement of the cobalt catalytic activity, and this is likely to be related to an increased cobalt reducibility. Both the support and the addition of gold improve the cobalt dispersion.