Hydrotreating catalysis with transition metal sulphides is one of the most important areas of industrial heterogeneous catalysis. The present book deals with the chemical and catalytic aspects of transition metal sulphides, focusing on their use in hydrotreating catalysis. The book¿s 12 chapters present reviews of solid-state, coordination and organometallic chemistry, surface science and spectroscopic studies, quantum chemical calculations, catalytic studies with model and real catalysts, as well as refinery processes. A presentation of state-of-the-art background to pertinent work in the field. Can be used as an introduction to the chemical and catalytic properties of transition metal sulphides as well as an advanced level reference.

The main application of Transition Metal Sulphides (TMS) as solid catalysts is for production of clean fuels in petroleum refineries. The various feedstocks to be processed all contain more or less sulphur, included in highly stable heteroaromatic molecules. In order to meet the stringent specifications imposed worldwide nowadays on transportation fuels to reduce their environmental impact, catalytic hydroprocessing remains essential. In this process, sulphur is removed as H2S following the reaction between molecular hydrogen and the heteroaromatics. The reaction conditions and reaction medium composition are such that only TMS provide stable catalysts, generally supported on alumina. Both for their fundamental and applied interest, these fascinating systems are still the subject of a very significant research effort, while major advances have been made over the past 30 years, involving innovative preparation routes, sophisticated surface science experiments for characterisation, detailed kinetic and mechanistic studies, and state of the art DFT simulations giving unprecedented insight into the local structure as well as elementary steps at microscopic level. This book aims at providing a complete, comprehensive and updated survey of the field, useful for anyone involved: the student starting a research project, the academic researcher or the refinery engineer willing to deepen their knowledge on the catalytic as well as on the process aspects. 37 specialists from IFP Energies nouvelles, CNRS, or French universities have contributed, reporting a unique synthesis of the last 15 years of research. The preface written by Michèle Breysse, a well known leading scientist who devoted most of her fruitful career to this topic, puts this collective work into a meaningful historical perspective. Contents : Part 1. Fundamental Aspects: Insights from DFT calculations and experimental surface sciences. 1. Periodic trends in catalysis by sulphides. 2. Atomic scale structures of mixed lamellar sulphides. 3. Theoretical and microkinetic studies of hydrotreatment reactions. 4. Models of supported Co(Ni)MoS Catalysts. Part 2. Progress in the preparation and characterisation of industrial hydrotreating catalysts. 1. Principles involved in the preparation of hydrotreatment catalysts. 2. Progress in the preparation of new catalysts. 3. Progress in the preparation of catalysts with controlled acidity: case of aluminosilicate supports. 4. Activation and genesis of the active phase by sulfidation. 5. life cycle of an HDT catalyst. 6. Charaterisation of catalysts. Part 3. Applications to the production of clean fuels. 1. An overview of refining. 2. Deep desulphurisation of middle distillates. 3. Selective desulphurisation of catalytic cracking gasolines. 4. Hydrocracking. 5. Hydroprocessing and hydroconversion of residue fractions. 6. Hydrotreatment of vegetable oils. 7. Hydroconversion of coals. Conclusion.

Transition Metal Sulfides (TMS), such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS.sub.2), are the petroleum industry's "workhorse" catalysts for upgrading heavy petroleum feedstocks and removing sulfur, nitrogen and other pollutants from fuels. We have developed an improved synthesis technique to produce SLTMS catalysts, such as molybdenum disulfide, with potentially greater activity and specificity than those currently available. Applications for this technology include heavy feed upgrading, in-situ catalysis, bio-fuel conversion and coal liquefaction.

Transition metal catalysis belongs to the most important chemical research areas because a ubiquitous number of chemical reactions are catalyzed by transition metal compounds. Many efforts are being made by industry and academia to find new and more efficient catalysts for chemical processes. Transition metals play a prominent role in catalytic research because they have been proven to show an enormous diversity in lowering the activation barrier for chemical reactions. For many years, the search for new catalysts was carried out by trial and error, which was costly and time consuming. The understanding of the mechanism of the catalytic process is often not very advanced because it is difficult to study the elementary steps of the catalysis with experimental techniques. The development of modern quantum chemical methods for calculating possible intermediates and transition states was a breakthrough in gaining an understanding of the reaction pathways of transition metal catalyzed reactions. This volume, organized into eight chapters written by leading scientists in the field, illustrates the progress made during the last decade. The reader will obtain a deep insight into the present state of quantum chemical research in transition metal catalysis.

Soluble catalysts are used extensively in many branches of chemistry and are indeed a vital constituent of many natural processes. They find wide application throughout the chemical industry where they assist in the production of several million tonnes of chemicals each year. Since homogeneous systems, especially those incorporating transition metals, often function effectively under milder conditions than their heterogeneous counterparts, they are becoming increasingly important at a time when the chemical industry in particular, and society in general, is seeking ways of conserving energy and of making the best possible use of available resources. My principal objective in- writing this book is to engender sufficient enthusiasm for, and knowledge of, the subject in the reader that he or she will be encouraged to begin, or continue, to make their own contribution to advancing our knowledge of homogeneous catalysis. After attempting to acquaint the reader with some of the ground rules I have tried to describe the present scope, and the future potential, of this fascinating field of chemistry by drawing both on academic and on industrial data sources. This approach stems from a personal conviction that future progress could be considerably hastened by a more meaningful dialogue between chemists working both in industrial and in academic research institutions. Wherever possible, examples of the commercial application of homogeneous catalyst systems have been included and no attempt has been made in any way to disguise the many unresolved questions and exciting challenges which still pervade this rapidly developing area.

The most comprehensive and up-to-date survey of five industrially important areas ofcatalysis, Catalysis and Surface Science focuses on chemicals from methanol ... hydrotreatingof hydrocarbons . . . catalyst preparation ... monomers and polymers ... andphotocatalysis and photovoltaics.In each of these significant topics, this useful collection of articles traces state-of-the-artdevelopments in fundamental science ... in current exploratory and applied research ...and in current technology. It outlines future trends in catalytic research and technology,and gathers together and synthesizes-into one, single, handy reference-the informationcontained in voluminous, widely scattered articles, books, and patents. As added referencefeatures, this authoritative source provides a wealth of illustrations, including photographs,charts, tables, and line drawings .. . plus useful, detailed bibliographies for further research.Written by 32 leading authorities on all aspects of catalysis, Catalysis and Surface Scienceis essential reading for chemical, industrial process, petrochemical, and electronicengineers, as well as industrial, polymer, and materials chemists. It is also a useful text forgraduate students in chemistry and chemical engineering.