Deep oxidative desulfurization of fuels based on[C4mimCl]CoCl2 ionic liquid oxone solutions at room temperature. (15th November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xu, Hang; Zhang, Dandan; Wu, Fengmin; Cao, Renqiang
• Is Part Of: Fuel. Volume 208(2017)
• Page Start: 508
• Page End: 513
• Publication Date: 2017-11-15
• Subjects: Desulfurization -- Ionic liquid -- Oxone -- Cobalt chloride; Fuel -- Periodicals; Coal -- Periodicals; Coal; Fuel; Periodicals; 662.6
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2017.07.060
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0016-2361

Abstract

Abstract: A functional [C4 mimCl]CoCl2 ionic liquid was prepared by directly mixing cobalt chloride (CoCl2 ) with 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (C4 mimCl). Oxone (KHSO5 ) was selected as an oxidizing agent and, together with [C4 mimCl]CoCl2, formed an extraction/catalytic oxidation system for the desulfurization of fuels. Compared with the Fenton-like desulfurization systems, the oxone solid is cheaper, more stable, and less corrosive than liquid H2 O2 . The results indicated that a S-removal efficiency of 97.7% can be achieved under optimal experimental conditions (i.e., 2 g of [C4 mimCl]CoCl2, initial S content of 500 ppm, 6 g of dibenzothiophene (DBT) in n-octane, 1 g of oxone solution, 50 °C, and 65 min). The [C4 mim]Cl/CoCl2 ionic liquid showed a very good recycling performance (i.e., the S removal efficiency remained above 96% after 6 consecutive desulfurization processes). The removal of different sulfur compounds in octane after 65 min followed the trend DBT > 4, 6-dimethyldibenzothiphene (4, 6-DMDBT) > benzothiophene (BT) with S removal efficiencies of 97.7, 93.7, and 74.0%, respectively. According to the gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis, the oxidative product was identified as DBTO2, and a possible sulfur removal mechanism was predicted. The [C4 mimCl]CoCl2 ionic liquid displayed a dual function (i.e., catalytic and extractive agents) during the desulfurization process.