The effect of Nb as a support modifier on the NiMo6/Al2O3–Nb2O5(x) (x = 0, 1, 4, and 8 wt% Nb) catalysts was studied. The supports were prepared by one-pot coprecipitation from soluble precursors. The XRF analysis of the catalysts showed that the contents of Mo and Ni increased slightly with the presence of Nb. Micropore area and pore volume augmented importantly with Nb content, resulting in pore diameters between 5.3 and 9.3 nm. XPS analysis showed that the presence of Nb decreases the active metal–support interaction, improving the Mo and Ni sulfidation degree. The Raman spectra of sulfided catalysts suggested an increase in the number of layers of MoS2 in the presence of Nb. Generally, the thiophene HDS activity at normal pressure of sulfided NiMo6/Al2O3–Nb2O5(8) was greater than that of the sulfided catalysts with x = 0, 1, and 4 wt% Nb, which can be attributed to the Nb promotion that would have an effect on the type of active site (Brønsted or Lewis acidic sites), since the number of sites by CO chemisorption for sulfided NiMo6/Al2O3–Nb2O5(x) did not show correlation with the catalytic activity. The high-pressure HDS activity of dibenzothiophene was also greater in the presence of Nb, and the hydrogenation route was preferred for the Nb-promoted solid, while the unpromoted one showed a larger yield of direct desulfurization products.
