Diesel production with low/no sulfur content is a major trend in world-wide development of clean fuels. Among many alternative technologies

hydrogenation desulfurization (HDS) is most effective to produce clean diesel at industrial scale

which development of highly active catalysts is the key. In this study

a series of Mo/Al2O3-MgO catalysts were prepared by metal oxide composites of MgAl-hydrotalcite and alumina as carriers with incipient-wetness impregnation method. Their catalytic performance was evaluated on dibenzothiophene (DBT) solution in n-heptane as raw material in a fixed-bed reactor. The results showed that Mg/Al molar ratio

calcination temperature

and additive amount all affected acidity

reduction and sulfidation of the catalysts and stacking degree of MoS2 crystallites. When Mg/Al molar ratio was 3

calcination temperature was 800℃

and hydrotalcite was 10% (mass)

the obtained catalyst has the highest HDS activity with up to 96.2% desulfurization rate. Appropriate catalyst acidity and suitable interaction between active component and carrier make it easier to sulfide the active component

which is beneficial to improve stacking degree of MoS2 crystallites and enhance catalytic performance.