Comparative study of spent and virgin NiMo/γ-Al2O3 hydrodesulphurization catalysts

It is well known that supported (Co) or (Ni) molybdenum/alumina catalysts are extensively used in hydrotreating (HT) processes for the production of environmentally friendly fuels, and these catalysts have been in need of extensive studies in term of their use and deactivation. This work demonstrate a comparative physical and chemical study of virgin and spent NiMo-γ alumina catalysts and characterized them by thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), atomic-force-microscope (AFM) and fourier, transform, infrared, spectroscopy (FTIR). It was noted that there is obvious changes in structural, textural, particle size, physical properties, such as densities, porosity of the virgin catalysts with use as a result of carbon deposition and change in its structural components.