Active ruthenium phosphide as selective sulfur removal catalyst of gasoline model compounds

This paper presents the catalytic activity of ruthenium phosphides supported on SBA-15 material as hydrodesulfurization (HDS) catalysts of gasoline model compounds. It was studied the influence of the P/Ru molar ratio of 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4.5 (samples were labeled as 0.5-P/Ru, 1-P/Ru, 2-P/Ru, 3-P/Ru and 4.5-P/Ru) in the hydrodesulfurization of 3-methyl-thiophene as a model molecule and evaluated under mild reaction conditions. The ruthenium phosphide phase was synthesized from a conventional phosphate reduction method using RuCl3 and (NH4)2HPO4 as precursors. The catalysts were characterized by XRPD, N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms, TEM, EDS, XPS, NH3-TPD, H2-TPD and CO chemisorption. All catalysts maintained the mesoporous structure characteristic of the SBA-15 support, although pore blockage occurred at high P loadings. TEM images and EDS mapping showed well dispersed active phosphide phases, mainly RuP and Ru2P, as evidenced by XRPD. 3-P/Ru catalyst became to be the most active in the HDS reaction, with a high isomerization ability, which was assigned to its medium acidity and higher amount of active species on the surface that activates H2 species. •The ruthenium phosphide catalysts are effective for the HDS for selective sulfur removal of gasoline model compounds.•The phosphorus load leads the formation of Ru2P active phase, optimizing a P/Ru molar ratio of 3.•The ruthenium phosphide catalysts displayed medium acidity properties that led to a high isomerization ability.