EXAFS measurements of a working catalyst in the liquid phase: An in situ study of a Ni2P hydrodesulfurization catalyst

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcat.2006.03.024
• Publication Date: 2006-05-17T11:38:08Z
• Authors: T KAWAI; K BANDO; Y LEE; S OYAMA; W CHUN; K ASAKURA
• Keywords: Refining (metallurgy)

Abstract Strict environmental regulations and declining quality of petroleum feedstocks have made sulfur removal one of the most important current problems in refining. A novel, high-activity Ni 2 P/SiO 2 catalyst with exceptional activity in deep hydrodesulfurization (HDS) was studied by in situ extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). The measurements were conducted at realistic conditions of high pressure (3 MPa) and high temperature (613 K) and were made possible by the use of a low-volume cell with cubic boron nitride windows. The spectra thus obtained reveal that the bulk Ni 2 P structure is stable at reaction conditions, but that the active surface has Ni S bonds.