One-pot synthesis, characterization and desulfurization of functional mesoporous W-MCM-41 from POM-based ionic liquids

• Functional W-MCM-41 have been successfully synthesized from POM-based ionic liquids.
• The materials characterized in detail demonstrated high performance in the deep desulfurization.
• The as-synthesized materials acted not only as absorbents but also catalysts in the reaction.
• The desulfurization process were conducted at mild reaction conditions without any organic solvents.

Tungsten-containing functional meso-materials W-MCM-41 have been successfully synthesized and employed in the desulfurization of dibenzothiophene (DBT). The as-synthesized materials were characterized by XRD, XPS, TEM, Raman, FTIR, DRS, and BET analysis. The experimental results demonstrated that the mesoporous structure was well preserved after introduction of W species into the meso-materials. These materials presented a high dispersion of tungsten species and excellent catalytic activity on the removal of dibenzothiophene without any organic solvents as extractants, and the sulfur removal could reach 100.0% at 60 °C in 30 min. The catalytic performance on different sulfur compounds was also investigated in detail. After recycling for nine times, the removal of the oxidation desulfurization system could still reach 90.0%. According to the GC–MS analysis of the oxidation products, a mechanism was proposed for the absorptive oxidation process of DBT.

DBT was absorbed by the mesoporous material and then oxidized into DBTO2 by the active peroxo species, which was formed by tungsten species in the presence of H2O2.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide