Hydrodesulfurization Pathway of 4,6-Dimethyldibenzothiophene through Isomerization over Y-Zeolite Containing CoMo/Al₂O₃ Catalyst

Abstract

Hydrodesulfurization (HDS) reactivity of a refractory sulfur species, 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT), was examined over a Y-zeolite containing CoMo/Al 2 O 3 (CoMo/Al 2 O 3 -zeolite), conventional CoMo/Al 2 O 3, and NiMo/Al 2 O 3 . Isomerization and considerable transalkylation of 4,6-DMDBT into 3,6-DMDBT and into tri- or tetramethyldibenzothiophenes, respectively, were observed characteristically over CoMo/Al 2 O 3 -zeolite catalyst. Migration of methyl groups enhances the HDS reactivity of the refractory sulfur species by diminishing the steric hindrance. Among the catalysts examined, CoMo/Al 2 O 3 -zeolite exhibited the best activity for HDS of the gas oil through the effective desulfurization of refractory alkyldibenzothiophenes.