Synthesis of Dawson Hetero-Polyoxometalate/Activated Carbon Composite and evaluation of its catalytic application for Oxidative removal of Dibenzothiophene

The presence of sulfur-containing compounds in fossil fuels has been considered as major source of SOx. Oxidative desulfurization (ODS) is recognized as a promising process to remove sulfur compounds in fossil fuels. Furthermore, in recent years, polyoxometalates (POMs), renowned as green catalysts, have attracted worldwide attention for their high efficiency in ODS. In this research, activated carbon (AC) supported dawson type hetero-polyoxometalate composite has been synthesized and evaluated as a new catalyst in oxidative desulfurization of model fuel containing dibenzothiophene. The prepared Dawson/AC catalysts were analyzed using FTIR, XRD, SEM. In order to optimize the operating conditions of ODS using Dawson/AC as catalyst, three conditions such as temperature, catalyst dosage and oxidant dosage were studied. Under optimized conditions, sulfur removal up to 99.2% or even higher than that using Dawson/AC composite as catalyst in ODS can be achieved.