2007 Volume 50 Issue 1 Pages 61-64
Hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of thiophene over silica-modified alumina-supported platinum (Pt/SiO2-Al2O3) catalysts was examined. The HDS activity of a Pt/Al2O3 catalyst was enhanced by silica modification. However, the optimal silica loading for HDS activity could not be identified. The dispersion of platinum on alumina, as measured by the hydrogen adsorption method, was enhanced by silica modification and the optimal silica loading for platinum dispersion was 10 to 40 wt%. The acidity of SiO2-Al2O3 was evaluated by 2-propanol dehydration (200°C) and cumene cracking (400°C). The optimal silica loading for the acidity of SiO2-Al2O3 was 90 wt%. Furthermore, the presence of Brönsted acid sites on SiO2-Al2O3 was confirmed by a pyridine adsorption method with FT-IR spectroscopy. The high HDS activity of the Pt/SiO2-Al2O3 catalyst is caused by both high Pt dispersion and formation of Brönsted acid sites.