Mesoporous Gamma‐Alumina‐Supported Mo Catalysts: Effect of Calcination Temperature

Abstract Mesoporous γ‐Al 2 O 3 ‐supported Mo oxides precursors were prepared by one‐step hydrolysis method without organic template at different calcination temperatures (MoO x /γ‐MA‐T) from 400 to 700 °C. Then MoS 2 catalysts (MoS 2 /γ‐MA‐T) were obtained from the precursors through in‐situ sulfurization and applied for hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of dibenzothiophene (DBT). Effects of precursors calcination temperature on physicochemical properties and catalytic performances of catalysts were systematically investigated. With the increase of calcination temperature, the strength of metal‐support interactions and slab lengths of MoS 2 increased. The slab stacks were inhibited by the strengthened strong interaction, leading to the reduction of edge/rim sites ratio that are favour for the HDS reaction. Appropriate calcination temperature (500 °C) could make the MoS 2 /γ‐MA‐500 possess favourable pore structure, particle dispersion, and edge/rim sites ratio, which were conducive to the mass transfer process of reactants and products, and lowered the carbon deposition rate, thus improving its catalytic activity, stability and direct hydrogenolysis desulfurization selectivity.