A study of relationships between pore size distribution, hydrogen chemisorption, and activity of hydrodesulphurisation catalysts

A series of commercial catalysts was tested for hydrodesulphurisation (HDS) activity using an atmospheric gas oil. The pore volume distribution in the radius range 10-300 Å and the hydrogen uptake at 350 °C were measured for each catalyst. A correlation was found between relative HDS activity and the pore volume contained in the radius range 37.5-55 Å. The hydrogen uptake was also found to correlate with the same pore volume. The significance of the correlation between hydrogen uptake, a chemical property, and pore volume distribution, a physical property, is discussed.