Aerobic Oxidative Desulfurization of Liquid Fuel Catalyzed by P-Mo-V Heteropoly Acids in the Presence of Aldehyde

Aerobic oxidative desulfurization (ODS) of model liquid fuel (dodecane spiked with dibenzothiophene (DBT)) was carried out in the presence of bulk and supported Keggin-type heteropoly acids H3+nPMo12-nVnO40 (HPA-n, n = 0-3) as heterogeneous catalysts and benzaldehyde as a sacrificial reductant. In the presence of bulk H4PMo11VO40 (HPA-1), 100% of DBT was removed from fuel (converted to DBT sulfone) at 60 degrees C and ambient air pressure. Multiple catalyst reuse without loss of activity was demonstrated. The ODS reaction was strongly inhibited by radical scavengers. An unbranched radical chain mechanism was proposed.

Automated summary

The study utilized Keggin-type heteropoly acids as catalysts for aerobic oxidative desulfurization, showing effective removal of sulfides from model liquid fuel. The catalysts could be reused multiple times without loss of activity, and the proposed reaction mechanism may involve an unbranched radical chain.