Dibenzothiophene (DBT) Oxidative Desulfurization Using Supported Ionic Liquid on γ-Al2O3

Recently, the use of ionic liquids (ILs) as new catalysts for oxidative desulfurization (ODS) has been interested for researchers. The main disadvantages of the use of IL in ODS process were their high cost and separation problems. In the present study, NMP.FeCl3 IL was immobilized on γ-Al2O3 for lower IL consumption and easier separation of it from oil. The immobilization was confirmed by XRD and FTIR characterization; then the catalyst was examined in ODS of model oil consisted of dibenzothiophene (DBT) in n-octane (sulfur concentration: 500 µg/g). The GC-FID results showed more than 98% DBT removal at temperature of 40 °C, catalyst/oil of 0.2 g/mL, oxidant/sulfur molar ratio of 4, during 90 min.