Method of making a hydrodesulfurization catalyst with a structural directing surfactant

A method of preparing a CoMoS hydrodesulfurization catalyst, the method comprising:

• mixing a structural directing surfactant with an acidic aqueous solution to form a first solution,
• adding a mercaptoalkyltrialkoxysilane to the first solution to form a second solution,
• mixing the second solution with a molybdenum precursor and a cobalt precursor to form a reaction mixture;
• hydrothermally treating the reaction mixture to form a dried mass;
• and
• calcining the dried mass in an activation gas thereby forming the CoMoS hydrodesulfurization catalyst,
• wherein:
• the activation gas is at least one selected from the group consisting of air, argon, nitrogen, helium, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide;
• and
• the CoMoS hydrodesulfurization catalyst is disposed on a support material comprising a mesoporous silica.