Abstract
In this study, a bimetallic CoMo spicy supported on γ-Al2O3 heterogeneous catalyst was successfully prepared by an incipient wetness impregnation for Hydrodesulphurization (HDS) reaction of An-Najaf oil refinery heavy naphtha. The structural characteristics of the prepared 5Co-15Mo/γ-Al2O3 catalyst were evaluated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRD) spectroscopies. The surface area, pore volume and pore size were determined by a Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method. The catalytic activity in the removal of sulphur compound from a heavy naphtha through the HDS at four different reaction temperatures (523, 548, 573, 598 °K) and four different liquid hourly space velocities (3, 4, 5, and 6 hr-1) under a constant ratio of 150 mL H2/1 mL naphtha and a hydrogen gas pressure of 1.5 MPa, has revealed that the prepared catalyst was efficient to remove 82 % of sulphur at 598 °K temperature and 3 hr-1 time. The enhanced selectivity of the CoMo/γ-Al2O3 catalyst through a hydro-treating reaction ascribes to the bimetallic-support interaction and the dispersion of MoS2 particles that leaded to a large edge-to-corner ratio of CoMoS slabs.
