Effect of Cu-Promotion on the Performance of Molybdenum Sulfide for Hydrotreating of FCC Gasoline

Copper sulfide (either supported or unsupported) has received poor attention as promoter since this chalcogenide displayed modest hydrotreatment activity. In this sense, was evaluated the potential of sulfide CuMo catalyst in the FCC gasoline hydrotreatment. A MoS2 bulk and the industrial NiMo/Al2O3 catalyst were used as reference. According to the results obtained, the NiMo commercial catalyst had higher HDS, HDN, and HYD activity, but with a significant decrease in the octane number (RON). While the CuMo catalysts showed a lower response towards hydrotreatment, maintaining its octane value. According to the results obtained in the characterizations carried out (XRD, XPS, TPR, physisorption of N2, among others), we propose that copper species could be generating geometric and/or electronic changes in the CuMoS phases, increasing the number of active sites. Additionally, the incorporation of the Cu in the crystalline structure could be modifying its electronic structure, granting a metallic character to the active phase. The work demonstrates the potential of CuMo catalyst for HDT of FCC gasoline.