Potential to use mesoporous carbon as catalyst support for hydrodesulfurization

A range of mesoporous carbons as potential supports to enhance ultra-deep hydrodesulphurization (HDS) of diesel fuel was synthesized using a sol-gel method. SBA-15 was used as template and sucrose and furfuryl alcohol were used as carbon sources.  Various carbon incorporation approaches were used. From the results of nitrogen adsorption, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, the synthesized carbon exhibited good replication of the SBA-15 structure. Loading of Co-Mo into the mesoporous carbons and catalysis dispersion were evaluated using various techniques including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The intrinsic HDS activity was evaluated by NO chemisorption on the prepared catalysts, which showed that the catalyst supported on mesoporous carbon using sucrose as carbon precursor has a higher NO uptake than that supported on commercial activated carbon.