Effect of cerium content on textural and hydrodesulfurization performance for dibenzothiophene over a bulk Ni2P catalyst

A series of ceria promoted Ni2P catalysts were prepared and evaluated in dibenzothiophene hydrodesulfurization steam. These catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption–desorption, CO chemisorptions, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results showed that the addition of ceria into the bulk Ni2P catalyst was conducive to the formation of the Ni2P phase and contributed to a higher surface area, leading to a better dispersion and smaller crystallite size of Ni2P particles. The CexNi2P catalysts showed higher dibenzothiophene hydrodesulfurization activity than Ni2P catalyst and the Ce0.09Ni2P catalyst showed the highest dibenzothiophene hydrodesulfurization activity. The Ce0.09Ni2P catalyst showed a dibenzothiophene hydrodesulfurization conversion of 94.5% at the reaction conditions of 320°C, 4.0 MPa, a H2/oil ratio of 500 (V/V), and a weight hourly space velocity of 8.0 h−1. The dibenzothiophene was mainly transformed through desulfurization pathway.