Organic acid-induced preparation of ordered mesoporous carbon assisted by TMB and its hydrodesulfurization performance

A new strategy has been developed for the preparation of ordered mesoporous carbon materials (OMCs) using weak organic acid induction assisted by 1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene (TMB). The type of acid, reaction temperature, TMB addition amount, and salt type all have different significant effects on the microstructure and morphology of carbon materials. In the absence of salt as a pore forming agent and inducing phase separation, OMCs was prepared by acetic acid induction at a reaction temperature of 100 °C and a TMB addition of 1 ml. The specific surface area and pore volume of mesoporous carbon are as high as 927 m 2 /g and 0.78 cm 3 /g, respectively, with a high mesoporous proportion of 72%. The catalyst obtained by loading MoO 2 and NiO nanoparticles on OMCs shows a higher specific surface area and a higher proportion of easily reducible octahedral molybdenum species compared to the catalyst obtained by loading metal on alumina. In the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) experiment of dibenzothiophene, the catalysts showed better HDS catalytic performance and higher hydrogenolysis activity.