Oxidative desulfurization of simulated gasoline catalyzed by acetic acid-based ionic liquids at room temperature

A series of acetic acid-based ionic liquids (ILs) were synthesized and used for oxidative desulfurization as both catalyst and extractant. The practical and orthogonal experiments showed that [Otbim]+CH3COO− containing eight-carbon side chain has of best catalytic activity. 87.5% of thiophene in the model oil was removed under the optimal conditions of oxidation temperature at 70 °C, oxidation time of 180 min, simulated oil dosage of 10 ml, and ILs/H2O2 volume ratio of 1:1.1. Meanwhile, the ILs could be recycled 5 times without any apparent loss of the catalytic activity.

► Acetic acid-based ILs were synthesized from acetic acid and benimidazolium.
► The ILs were used as phase-transfer catalysts and extractant for desulfurization.
► The conditions of oxidation were optimized by the orthogonal experiments.