A new type of nonsulfide hydrotreating catalyst: nickel phosphide on carbon.

Nickel phosphide on carbon is successfully synthesized by temperature-programmed reduction as verified with X-ray diffraction and extended X-ray absorption fine structure measurements; it shows superior activity, selectivity, and stability for sulfur removal from the refractory compound 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene with a steady-state conversion of 99%, which is much higher than that of a commercial NiMoS/[gamma]-Al2O3 catalyst of 68%.