Abstract: The Co/SBA-15, Mo/SBA-15, and Co-Mo/SBA-15 catalysts were prepared by the incipient wetness impregnation method. Their textural properties and surface acidity were characterized. In addition, these sulfided catalysts were compared with an industrial Co-Mo/γ-Al2O3catalyst in the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of thiophene and hydroisomerization of 1-hexene. The results showed that Co-Mo/SBA-15 catalyst exhibited comparable HDS reactivity to the Co-Mo/γ-Al2O3catalyst. The Co-Mo/SBA-15 catalyst exhibited strong Brnsted acidity whereas the Co-Mo/γ-Al2O3catalyst possessed mainly strong Lewis acidity. Although the Mo/SBA-15 catalyst also possessed strong Brnsted acidity, it showed lower catalytic activity for skeletal isomerization of 1-hexene owing to its higher hydrogenation activity. On the other hand, the Co-Mo/SBA-15 catalyst exhibited not only strong Brnsted acidity but also relatively low hydrogenation activity, and hence the skeletal isomerization of 1-hexene over the Co-Mo/SBA-15 catalyst was higher, showing the potential application in industry.

Key words: sulfidation, cobalt, molybdenum, SBA-15 zeolite, supported catalyst, thiophene, hydrodesulfurization, hexene, skeletal isomerization