Xiang Zheng, Shigang Li, Yihui Shu, Haifang Mao, Yong Guo
ABSTRACT In this study, the influence of CeO 2 loading (5–30 wt%) on the structure and hydrodesulfurization (HDS) performance of Ni‐based catalysts for dibenzothiophene (DBT) removal was systematically investigated. Catalysts were synthesized via incipient wetness co‐impregnation and characterized by XRD, N 2 adsorption‐desorption, SEM, TEM, XPS, and H 2 ‐TPR. Results showed that CeO 2 incorporation improved Ni dispersion and reducibility, with the 10%NiO‐30%CeO 2 /Al 2 O 3 catalyst achieving 99.6% DBT conversion and 90% biphenyl (BP) selectivity under optimal conditions (340°C, 4 MPa, WHSV = 6 h −1 ). The presence of CeO 2 promoted the direct desulfurization (DDS) pathway, reducing hydrogen consumption and preserving aromatic structures. Structural analysis revealed that CeO 2 enhanced metal‐support interactions, leading to the formation of interfaces between Ni and CeO 2 and improved sulfidation efficiency. These findings provide insights into the design of high‐performance Ni‐CeO 2 catalysts for ultra‐deep HDS applications.