In this work we study the catalytic properties of 1 wt% Ir-containing mesoporous materials in the
hydrogenation of tetralin to decalin in the presence of 100 ppm of dibenzotiophene at 250°C and 15
atm of pressure of hydrogen, using a Parr reactor. We described the preparation of new nanostructured
catalytic materials containing highly and homogeneously dispersed particles of Ir
0
after reduction, and
investigate their activity for hydrogenation of aromatic compounds, using tetralin as a model substrate.
The metal particle size of supported metal catalysts is an important factor affecting the catalytic
behavior and the support, in particular, the pore structure, can affect the metal dispersion. The Ir/SBA 3 catalyst synthesized by us had higher activity than Ir/Al-SBA-3 and Ir-MCM-41, measured in
tetralin hydrogenation at mild conditions. The experimental data were quantitatively represented by a
modified Langmuir-Hinshelwood type rate equation. The catalyst showed a good resistance to sulfur.
The preliminary results show this material as a promising catalyst for HDS/HDN reactions.
