The efficient synthesis of a molybdenum carbide catalyst via H2-thermal treatment of a Mo(VI)-hexamethylenetetramine complex.

An efficient method for preparation of Mo(2)C catalyst is described, where Mo(2)C is obtained by the heat treatment of a single solid precursor containing (NH(4))(6)Mo(7)O(24) and hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) at 923 K in H(2) flow without conventional prolonged carbonization. The catalysts are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), BET surface area measurement, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Furthermore, these catalysts are evaluated in the dibenzothiophene (DBT) hydrodesulfurization (HDS) reaction, and proved to be superior to those prepared by a temperature-programmed reduction (TPRe) method. The better catalytic performance is ascribed to higher dispersion of Mo(2)C on the support and a lower surface polymeric carbon content. This hydrogen thermal treatment (HTT) method provided a new strategy for the preparation of a highly active molybdenum carbide catalyst.