The influence of phosphorus on the structure and hydrodesulfurization activity of sulfided Fe and Fe-Mo catalysts supported on carbon and alumina

Phosphorus-containing Fe and Fe-Mo sulfide catalysts supported on ¿-Al2O3 and activated carbon were evaluated for their thiophene HDS activities at atmospheric pressure. The thiophene HDS activity of the carbon-supported catalysts decreased considerably in the presence of phosphorus, while the activity of the alumina-supported catalysts was not affected. It was shown by Mössbauer spectroscopy that in both the oxidic carbon- and alumina-supported catalyst precursors the presence of phosphorus resulted in an improved dispersion of the Fe phase. In the sulfided carbon-supported Fe and Fe-Mo catalysts, the presence of phosphorus resulted in the formation of an "Fe(II)-phosphate" phase, which was held responsible for the decrease in HDS activity. With regard to the sulfided alumina-supported catalysts, it was found that phosphorus did not influence the structure of the metal sulfide species