Hydrochloric acid boosts catalyst activity

Nickel molybdenum sulfide catalyst after acid treatment. Image: Manuel Wagenhofer/TUM Hydrochloric acid treatment improves catalysts for removing sulfur from crude oil - A research team from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) led by chemist Johannes Lercher has developed a synthesis process which drastically increases the activity of catalysts for the desulfurization of crude oil. The new process could perhaps also be used for catalysts in fuel cells. Crude oil contains a great deal of sulfur. To turn the crude oil into fuel, the sulfur compounds must be removed using hydrogen. Experts call this process hydrotreating. The process is carried out using catalysts.