Mesoporous Zeolite ZSM-5 Supported Ni₂P Catalysts with High Activity in the Hydrogenation of Phenanthrene and 4,6-Dimethyldibenzothiophene

Mesoporous zeolite ZSM-5 (ZSM-5-M) was synthesized and used as support for the preparation of highly efficient nickel phosphide catalyst (Ni 2 P/ZSM-5-M) in the deep hydrogenation of phenanthrene and in the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6-DM-DBT). Compared with Ni 2 P catalysts supported silica and high surface area hexagonal mesoporous silica (HMS) (Ni 2 P/SiO 2 and Ni 2 P/HMS), Ni 2 P/ZSM-5-M exhibits higher hydrogenation and HDS activity. The phenanthrene conversion and deep hydrogenation products selectivity over Ni 2 P/ZSM-5-M (95% and 83%) are much higher than those over Ni 2 P/SiO 2 (61% and 73%) and Ni 2 P/HMS (69% and 45%) under mild conditions. The 4,6-DM-DBT conversion over Ni 2 P/ZSM-5-M (93%) was higher than that over Ni 2 P/SiO 2 (62%). This feature is attributed to the difference in surface properties of support. A large amount of acidic hydroxyl groups on the zeolites can interact strongly with catalyst precursor, resulting in the formation of highly dispersed Ni 2 P particles with small sizes, which provide abundant hydrogenation active sites.