In-situ synthesis of Ni2P/Al2O3 catalyst with liquid-phase phosphidation for enhancing hydrogenation and desulfurization performance in C9 petroleum resin

The hydrogenation of unsaturated bonds and elimination of sulfur impurities in C 9 petroleum resin (C 9 PR) are crucial for improving its quality and performance. In this study, we prepared a nanoflower-like Ni 2 P/Al 2 O 3 catalyst using an in-situ synthesis combined with liquid-phase phosphidation strategy and applied for the production of value-added hydrogenated C 9 PR. In-situ synthesis of Ni-Al hydrotalcite anchors and disperses Ni nanoparticles, while liquid-phase phosphidation introduces high-content Ni δ+ and P δ− active sites and prevents the formation of inactive AlPO 4 , synergistically enhancing both hydrogenation and desulfurization activities. The synthesized Ni 2 P/Al 2 O 3 catalyst achieves a 99.6 % hydrogenation degree and reduces sulfur content from 137 ppm to 0 ppm, much better than the catalysts prepared by conventional impregnation and metal phosphate reduction methods. These results give valuable insights for designing efficient catalysts and advancing single-step hydrorefining processes to generate high-quality, value-added hydrogenated petroleum resins.