Promoting effect of ruthenium on NiMo/Al2O3 hydrotreating catalysts Original Research Article

Ruthenium (Ru) has been tested as a dopant for NiMo on alumina catalyst. A promotion effect is observed for the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of dibenzothiophene (DBT), and the hydrogenation (HYD) of tetralin. Maximum activity is obtained at a loading in the range of 0.25–0.5 wt.% Ru added to a NiMo catalyst. Temperature programmed reduction (TPR) and TEM were used to characterize the catalysts. The possibility to create a mixed decorated site (NiRu)MoS was investigated by varying the Ni/Ru atomic ratio. Substitution of Ni atoms by Ru may explain the promoting effect.