This book provides much information of interest to anyone working in the petroleum industry or studying catalyst preparation and characterization in industrial or university laboratories. It contains both review articles and papers reporting progress concerning hydrotreating catalysts which together provide an up-to-date picture of this interesting field. The use of modern spectroscopic techniques in catalyst characterization is described and new concepts such as microbial upgrading and the use of crystallography data in catalyst design are presented.

The present invention provides methods of synthesizing molybdenum disulfide (MoS.sub. 2) and carbon-containing molybdenum disulfide (MoS.sub. 2-xC.sub.x) catalysts that exhibit improved catalytic activity for hydrotreating reactions involving hydrodesulfurization, hydrodenitrogenation, and hydrogenation. The present invention also concerns the resulting catalysts. Furthermore, the invention concerns the promotion of these catalysts with Co, Ni, Fe, and/or Ru sulfides to create catalysts with greater activity, for hydrotreating reactions, than conventional catalysts such as cobalt molybdate on alumina support.

The development of efficient catalysts for hydrodesulfurization (HDS) and hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) processes is an essential and urgent research field. During oil refinement the removal of sulfur and nitrogen compounds from petroleum feedstock is crucial, as the emission of sulfur and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere causes severe environmental problems. In light of the industrial process for hydrocarbons, HDS is indispensable as it eliminates the poisoning of catalysts during hydrotreatment and hydrocracking. In order to develop new catalysts, the mechanism of these reactions as well as the structures and functions of the catalysts need to be elucidated. This book provides an up-to-date and deep insight, which spans kinetic studies, catalytic cycles, structures and properties of catalysts to process engineering. Therefore every chemist and engineer working in this important research field will welcome this valuable source of information.