Effect of Sulfates and Reduced-Vanadium Species on Oxidative Desulfurization (ODS) with V2O5/TiO2 Catalysts

Titania-supported vanadium oxide catalysts were prepared by thermal spreading and wet impregnation at different preparation conditions, to increase the oxidative desulfurization (ODS) activity of the sulfur compounds. The catalysts were modified introducing sulfates species and creating vanadium oxides partially reduced on titania. The oxidation states and reducibility of vanadium catalysts were studied by means of temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) and potentiometric titration. Catalysts were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDX), N2 adsorption−desorption technique, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy. Catalytic performance was discussed in terms of vanadium species prevailing on the catalysts, which increase the reactivity of refractory hydrodesulfurization (HDS) compounds (DBT, 4-MDBT, and 4,6-DMDBT).