Abstract: Mesoporous carbons (CMC) have larger average pore diameters and possess larger surface areas and pore volumes than traditional activated carbons (AC). Co-Mo/CMC and Ni-Mo/CMC catalysts were prepared by impregnation in the presence of a chelating agent and they exhibited much better porous properties than their AC supported counterparts. Accordingly, the CMC supported Co-Mo and Ni-Mo catalysts showed higher activities than the AC supported catalysts for the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of organic sulfides. More importantly, Co-Mo/CMC was much more active than commercial Co-Mo/γ-Al2O3 for the HDS of thiophene in a model gasoline. Ni-Mo/CMC was sig-nificantly more active than commercial FH-98 for the HDS of dibenzothiophene in a model diesel.

Key words: mesoporous carbon, porous property, hydrodesulfurization, cobalt, molybdenum, nickel, thiophene, dibenzothiophene