Abstract: This study investigates novel catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH) strategies for the reductive removal of nitrogen (N)-, oxygen (O)-, and sulfur (S)-containing functional groups from model compounds representing heteroatomic constituents of heavy oil fractions. Isopropanol serves as the hydrogen donor, while heterogeneous catalysts based on molybdenum (Mo)-, nickel-molybdenum (Ni-Mo)-, and cobalt-molybdenum (Co-Mo)-containing sulfide systems, supported on aluminum oxide, are employed. Experiments were conducted in an autoclave reactor at temperatures ranging from 250 to 300 °C and pressures between 7.5 and 12.0 MPa. The results indicate that under these conditions, the N-containing indole does not undergo denitrogenation; instead, alkylation of the indole is the predominant reaction. Benzofuran, an O-containing model compound, undergoes reductive transformations characterized by the sequential hydrogenation of the aromatic ring containing the oxygen atom, followed by C-O bond cleavage. The most efficient heteroatom removal is observed for S-containing compounds such as benzothiophene and dibenzothiophene. For benzothiophene, a sequential desulfurization mechanism is evident, involving initial dearomatization of the sulfur-containing ring. In contrast, dibenzothiophene undergoes direct sulfur removal without the formation of intermediate hydrogenation products.

Cite: Nesterov N. , Philippov A. , Predein A. , Romanov A. , Pakharukova V. , Prosvirin I. , Salomatina A. , Klimov O. , Martyanov O.
Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation as a Hydrodesulfurization Method Using Isopropanol as a Hydrogen Donor
Fuel. 2026. V.406, Part B. 136968 :1-12. DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2025.136968

Dates:

Submitted:	Jul 15, 2025
Accepted:	Sep 25, 2025
Published online:	Sep 30, 2025
Published print:	Feb 15, 2026

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