Molybdenum and cobalt based heteropolyanions (HPAs) could be used as an alternative to the conventional ammonium heptamolybdate and cobalt nitrate starting materials for friendly environmental preparation of Co-Mo/Al2O3 hydrotreating catalysts. In this aim, cobalt salts of molybdocobaltate and molydboaluminate Anderson HPAs have been synthesized and characterized by TGA, XRD, XAS, and vibrational spectroscopies. The crystal structure refinement provided evidence for the formation of a new heteropolyoxomolybdate derived from the well-known Anderson structure.

Heteropolyanions (HPAs) based on molybdenum and cobalt could be used as an alternative to the conventional ammonium heptamolybdate and cobalt nitrate precursors for the preparation of Co−Mo/Al2O3 hydrotreating catalysts. With this objective in mind, a cobalt salt of decamolybdocobaltate anion has been synthesized. This salt allows us to prepare catalyst with a Co/Mo atomic ratio of 0.5 corresponding to the optimum value encountered with classical catalyst preparation. The crystal structure refinement has been performed and reveals the formation of a new heteropolyoxomolybdate related to the well-known Anderson structure. Its structural, spectroscopic, and thermal properties have been investigated by physical techniques such as thermogravimetric analysis mass spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and vibrational spectroscopy. With the use of this new HPA precursor, initial catalytic results show a significant improvement of hydrodesulfurization catalytic performance.