Abstract: Ni2P/SiO2-Al2O3 catalysts were successfully prepared by treating amorphous Ni-P alloys with phosphine at low temperature. The as-prepared catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, N2 adsorption, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The XRD data showed that the amorphous Ni-P/SiO2-Al2O3 precursors could be completely transformed to crystalline Ni2P/SiO2-Al2O3 at 200-300 ℃. The crystalline structure of Ni2P became more prominent with increasing phosphatization temperature. The results of TEM indicated that Ni-P and Ni2P particles were both 40-50 nm in diameter and were well dispersed on the supports. The XPS results suggested that the main components were Ni2P and Ni3(PO4)2 on the surface of both Ni2P and Ni2P/SiO2-Al2O3. The Ni2P/SiO2-Al2O3 catalysts showed good activity for dibenzothiophene hydrodesulfurizationunder the experimental conditions.

Key words: amorphous alloy, nickel phosphide, dibenzothiophene, hydrodesulfurization