Method for making hydrodesulfurization catalyst including calcination

A calcination method for making a CoMoS hydrodesulfurization catalyst, the method comprising:

• mixing a molybdenum precursor, a cobalt precursor, a mercaptoalkyltrialkoxysilane, a structural directing surfactant, an acid, and a solvent to form a reaction mixture;
• hydrothermally treating the reaction mixture to form a dried mass;
• and
• calcining the dried mass in a reducing atmosphere with an activation gas containing a mixture of hydrogen and an inert gas thereby forming the CoMoS hydrodesulfurization catalyst, wherein the hydrogen is 50-80% by volume relative to a total volume of the reducing atmosphere,
• wherein:
• the inert gas is at least one selected from the group consisting of argon, nitrogen, and helium;
• and
• the CoMoS hydrodesulfurization catalyst disposed on a support material comprising a mesoporous silica.