Patent ID: 8821715

Claim:
An electrochemical catalytic method for the hydrodesulfurization of a petroleum-based hydrocarbon stream, which comprises the steps of: contacting the petroleum-based hydrocarbon stream with a hydrogen-containing gas in an electrochemical cell employing Non Faradic Electrochemical Modification of Chemical Activity, said cell comprising MoCo—TiO2 as an active-metal catalyst working electrode applied to a charge conducting solid electrolyte support selected from YSZ and BCN18, said titanium dioxide mixed with the MoCo, and a layer of a sputtered Mo film disposed between the working electrode and the solid electrolyte, the charge conducting solid electrolyte support is connected to a counter electrode of Au, the rate of hydrodesulfurization being electrochemically promoted by applying a current or potential between the catalyst and the counter electrode during hydrodesulfurization.