Fast, non-extractive, and ultradeep desulfurization of diesel in an oscillatory baffled reactor

Sulfur compounds are major contaminants in diesel fuels and cause significant negative impacts on the environment, human health, and petroleum product quality. Oxidative desulfurization (ODS) has gained attention due to relatively mild operating conditions. However, ODS requires significant improvements in terms of productivity, reaction time, and conversion. This study reports the development of a highly efficient, rapid ODS process, in an oscillatory baffled reactor (OBR), to allow continuous, safe diben-zothiophene (DBT) removal. DBT conversion was studied as a function of temperature, residence time, oscillation frequency, and oscillation amplitude. By optimizing the operating conditions, up to 94 % DBT could be removed without further extraction in 3 min, at 80 degrees C, 4 Hz, and 6 mm. This is a substantial increase over comparable processes at this temperature and furthermore has been conducted in a reac-tor that scales up predictably, hence it is probable that this performance can be realized at an industrial scale. (C) 2021 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Institution of Chemical Engineers.

Automated summary

This study developed a highly efficient, rapid oxidative desulfurization (ODS) process for continuous removal of sulfur contaminants in diesel fuels. By optimizing the operating conditions, up to 94% of DBT could be removed in a short amount of time without the need for further extraction.