Effect of Gold on the HDS Activity of Supported Palladium Catalysts

Abstract The effect of gold on palladium catalysts supported on amorphous aluminosilicate was investigated in the hydrodesulfurization of thiophene. A series of bimetallic AuxPdy catalysts was prepared by the slow deposition–precipitation method with decomposition of urea. The structural and surface properties of the samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques at different stages of the catalyst life. After calcination at 673 K, gold-enriched solid solutions of approximately Au90Pd10 and Au80Pd20 composition were formed for all samples of different Au/Pd ratios, along with free palladium phases. Au80Pd20 was the prevailing phase. Hydrogen treat…