Hydrodenitrogenation-selective catalysts I. Fe promoted Mo/W sulfides

This paper describes the development of a new catalyst system which gives an unusual combination of high hydrodenitrogenation and low hydrodesulfurization. This has been observed in tests with a highly aromatic distillate feed. The catalyst is an unsupported iron-promoted molybdenum or tungsten sulfide formed from thermal decomposition of bis(diethylenetriamine) iron thiomolybdate or thiotungstate. The results from a brief accelerated aging experiment have shown that this bulk sulfide system is thermally stable. Characterization of the Fe-Mo catalyst has indicated that it consists of a single sulfide phase which during activity testing partially transforms into an iron sulfide mixed with an MoS₂-like phase.