SUPPORTED SULFIDE CLUSTER CATALYSTS FOR HYDRODESULFURIZATION

THIS PROPOSAL OUTLINES A SIX-MONTH RESEARCH PROGRAM AIMED ATFUNDAMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS OF METAL SULFIDE CLUSTER-OXIDE SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR HYDRODESULFURIZATION (HDS). HYDRODESULFURIZATION REMAINS A POORLY UNDERSTOOD REACTION DESPITE VERY EXTENSIVE STUDY. THE USE OF CLUSTER-DERIVED CATALYSTS FOR HDS REPRESENTS A VERY NOVEL APPROACH TO ADVANCING OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE PHYSIOCHEMICAL NATURE OF THE ACTIVE SITE FOR HDS. THIS TYPE OF CATALYST MAY ALSO HAVE IMPROVED ACTIVITIES AND SELECTIVITIES WHEN COMPARED TO CONVENTIONAL PREPARED CATALYSTS. WE WILL INVESTIGATE THE HOMONUCLEAR SULFIDE CLUSTERS, CP2MO2 (MUS)2(MUSH)2, FE2 (MUS)27CO) AND CO6 (MU3S)2 (CO)12.BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN BRIDGING SULFIDE LIGANDS, WE EXPECT THEIR METAL FRAMEWORKS TO BE VERY ROBUST, AND STABLE UNDER HDS REACTION CONDITIONS. THESE CLUSTERS WILL BE SYNTHESIZEDAND SUPPORTED ON PARTIALLY DEHYDROXYLATED NU-A1203 AND MGO. A VARIETY OF TECHNIQUES WILL BE USED TO ANALYZE THE PURE AND SUPPORTED CATALYSTS. THESE TECHNIQUES INCLUDE INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY, BET SURFACE AREA ANALYSIS, X-RAY DIFFRACTION, AND X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY. FURTHERMORE, WE WILL INVESTIGATE THE MECHANISTIC ASPECTS OF HDS IN AN ATTEMPT TO DEVELOP A MODEL.