Synthesis of Keggin-type lacunary 11-tungstophosphates encapsulated into mesoporous silica pillared in clay interlayer galleries and their catalytic performance in oxidative desulfurization

Keggin-type lacunary polyoxotungstates [PW11O39(H2O)](7-) (PW11) and metal-modified [PW11O39(H2O)M](5-) (M = Ni2+ or Co2+) were incorporated into the mesoporous silica pillared clays (MSPC) by a hydrothermal sol-gel method. The resulting materials retain the layered structure of the clay precursor and possess a mesoporous structure. The catalytic performance of the materials was tested using oxidative desulfurization of dibenzothiophene-containing model oil as a probe reaction. The results indicated that PW11-MSPC possess an excellent catalytic performance. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.