Evidence and Characterization of a New Decamolybdocobaltate Cobalt Salt: An Efficient Precursor for Hydrotreatment Catalyst Preparation

Heteropolyanions (HPAs) based on molybdenum and cobalt could be used as an alternative to the conventional ammonium heptamolybdate and cobalt nitrate precursors for the preparation of Co−Mo/Al 2 O 3 hydrotreating catalysts. With this objective in mind, a cobalt salt of decamolybdocobaltate anion has been synthesized. This salt allows us to prepare catalyst with a Co/Mo atomic ratio of 0.5 corresponding to the optimum value encountered with classical catalyst preparation. The crystal structure refinement has been performed and reveals the formation of a new heteropolyoxomolybdate related to the well-known Anderson structure. Its structural, spectroscopic, and thermal properties have been investigated by physical techniques such as thermogravimetric analysis mass spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and vibrational spectroscopy. With the use of this new HPA precursor, initial catalytic results show a significant improvement of hydrodesulfurization catalytic performance.