Preparation of skeletal Co-Mo catalysts by controlled impregnation of aluminosilicate skeletons containing deposited gamma-alumina with aqueous solutions of active component precursors has been investigated. The activity of the laboratory catalysts in gas oil hydrodesulfurization has been determined. Kinetics of impregnation of skeletal supports, the effect of their type, and the dependence of catalyst activity on the content of cobalt and molybdenum sulfides are reported. HDS skeletal catalysts prepared were compared with the extruded types. It was found that skeletal HDS catalysts show the higher activity (related to the content of alumina and Co-Mo sulfides) than the extruded ones due to the less significant effect of internal diffusion. However, if the activity is related to the same volume of catalyst bed, the activity of skeletal catalysts is only one fourth of that of the extruded types.
