The Effect Of The Mo/W Ratio On The Catalytic Properties Of Alumina Supported Hydrotreating Catalysts Prepared From Mixed Simo6w6 And Simo9wk Heteropolyacids

New mixed H4[SiMonWn-12O40] (n = 6 and 9) Keggin type heteropolyacids (HPAs) have been successfully synthesized, as confirmed by single-crystal XRD, Raman and IR spectroscopy analysis. The resulting polyoxometallates were used for preparation of hydrotreatment catalysts. Mo(W)/Al2O3 catalysts were synthesized by incipient wetness impregnation of alumina support with water solutions of prepared mixed Keggin HPAs and corresponding counterparts based on mixture of monometallic H4[SiMo12O40] and H4[SiW12O40] HPAs. Oxidic catalysts were analyzed by Raman spectroscopy to determine the precursor structure after deposition. Catalysts in sulfided state were characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), high angle annular dark field imaging (HAADF) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and were tested in cohydrotreating of dibenzothiophene (DBT) and naphthalene. The use of new mixed Keggin HPAs made it possible to obtain catalysts with mixed MoWS2 active centers, which was confirmed by HAADF. Moreover, the Mo/(Mo + W) ratio has a direct effect on the structure of the active phase species. An ordered core-shell structure with Mo atoms in the core is maintained until the fraction of molybdenum in mixed MoW/Al2O3 catalyst exceeds 50 %, where a more disordered structure is observed. Moreover, this Mo/(Mo + W) ratio of 0.5 is optimal to achieve a maximum catalytic activity. Indeed, the turnover frequencies (TOF) of the MoWS2 edge centers with random atoms distribution in a cluster as in Mo9W3/Al2O3, was lower compared to that of Mo6W6/Al2O3 with core-shell structure.