Mechanochemical synthesis of nanocrystalline nickel-molybdenum compounds and their morphology and application in catalysis: III. Catalytic properties of massive Ni-Mo sulfide catalysts synthesized using mechanochemical activation

The precursors of massive Ni-Mo catalysts for hydrotreating processes, which were synthesized by the mechanochemical activation of a mixture of nickel hydroxocarbonate NiCO3·2Ni(OH)2·nH2O and ammonium paramolybdate (NH4)6Mo7O24 · 4H2O, were sulfidized. Their structure was studied by X-ray diffraction analysis and high-resolution electron microscopy. It was found that MoS2 packets, which are characterized by the presence of structural defects and geometric curvature, are the constituents of the massive catalysts. The catalyst also includes a phase of Ni3S2 and regions containing a complex Ni-Mo-S phase. The catalytic tests of the synthesized catalysts in the model reactions of 1-methylnaphthalene and dibenzothiophene conversions showed that the catalyst whose precursor was a heteropoly compound with the Anderson structure after the stage of mechanochemical activation exhibited the highest activity.