A new approach to synthesize supported ruthenium phosphides for hydrodesulfurization. (February 2016) - Wang, Qingfang
Graphical abstract: Highlights: We bring out a new method to synthesize noble metal phosphides at low temperature. Both RuP and Ru2 P were synthesized using triphenylphosphine as phosphorus sources. Ru2 P was the better active phase for HDS than RuP and metal Ru. RuP/SiO2 prepared by new method had better HDS activity to that by TPR method. Abstract: Supported noble metal ruthenium phosphides were synthesized by one-step H2 -thermal treatment method using triphenylphosphine (TPP) as phosphorus sources at low temperatures. Two phosphides RuP and Ru2 P can be prepared by this method via varying the molar ratio of metal salt and TPP. The as-prepared phosphides were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), low-temperature N2 adsorption, CO chemisorption and transmission electronic microscopy (TEM). The supported ruthenium phosphides prepared by new method and conventional method together with contradistinctive metallic ruthenium were evaluated in hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of dibenzothiophene (DBT). The catalytic results showed that metal-rich Ru2 P was the better active phase for HDS than RuP and metal Ru. Besides this, ruthenium phosphide catalyst prepared by new method exhibited superior HDS activity to that prepared by conventional method.