Solid state synthesis and activity of a Cu-containing hydrodesulphurization catalyst

Metallic copper, believed to act as an electronic poison for hydrodesulphurization (HDS) catalysis, was combined via solid state reactions with elemental sulphur and molybdenum powders to synthesize a model catalyst that displayed high thiophene HDS activity, suggesting a predominantly structural, rather than electronic promoter effect in our solid state model catalyst system.