Hydrodesulfurization of thiophenic compounds over synthetic smectite-type clays Original Research Article

Porous smectite-type clays containing cobalt atoms in lattice, (MST(Co)), were synthesized with a hydrothermal method. The MST(Co) clays were composed of silicate fragments having cobalt atoms in octahedral sheets and micro- and mesopores were formed between the stacking of the silicate fragments. The MST(Co) clays were applied for heterogeneous catalysts. The MST(Co) clays showed higher activities for the hydrodesulfurization of thiophenic compounds (thiophene and benzothiophene) than a commercial alumina-supported cobalt–molybdenum catalyst.