Oxidative Desulfurization by Oxygen Using Amphiphilic Quaternary Ammonium Peroxovanadium Polyoxometalates

An amphiphilic peroxovanadium polyoxometalate {[C16H33N(CH3)(3)](5)[PMo10V2O38(O-2)(2)]} (abbreviated as C16PMo10V2(O-2)(2)) was fabricated using surfactant and peroxovanadium polyoxometalate as precursors. It was used as a reverse-micellar catalyst for efficient oxidative desulfurization (ODS) using oxygen as an oxidant under mild conditions (atmospheric pressure, 70 A degrees C). Dibenzothiophene removal could reach 98 % with sulfone 100 % selectivity for 4 h. The catalyst provided a means for improving reaction rates and easy recovery in ODS.