Abstract: TiO2-Al2O3 composite oxides were prepared by the sol-gel method and calcined at 773-1?073 K. The influence of calcination temperature of the composite oxide on the catalytic performance of Au-Pd/TiO2-Al2O3 catalyst for the hydrodesulfurization of thiophene was studied. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, temperature-programmed desorption of adsorbed pyridine, temperature-programmed reduction, infrared spectroscopy, and nitrogen adsorption. The results showed that all the TiO2-Al2O3 samples were mesoporous materials, and the TiO2-Al2O3 calcined at 773 K had larger BET surface area and pore volume, and more Bronsted acid centers. Au-Pd/TiO2-Al2O3 catalysts showed good activity for the hydrodesulfurization of thiophene. The Au-Pd supported on the TiO2-Al2O3 calcined at 773 K showed the highest activity because of the stronger metal-support interaction, the more AuxPdy active centers formed on the catalyst surface and Bronsted acid sites, the higher metal dispersion, and the lower apparent activation energy.

Key words: gold, palladium, titania, alumina, composite oxide support, calcination temperature, hydrodesulfurization