Hydrotreating catalysts on alumina, titania or zirconia from ethanol/water solutions of heteropolyacids

Supported PNiMo(W) catalysts for hydrodesulfurization and hydrodenitrogenation were prepared. Heteropolyacids were used as precursors and supported on alumina, titania and zirconia. The tungstophosphoric and molybdophosphoric acids showed a stable Keggin-type structure when the supports were zirconia and titania. However, the heteropolyacids on alumina were degraded during the drying and/or calcination of the impregnated samples. The catalysts prepared on alumina had the highest activity, in the order of commercial ones. The catalysts on titania were more active than the samples supported on zirconia.