Desulfurization of diesel via the H2O2 oxidation of aromatic sulfides to sulfones using a tungstate catalyst

A simplified oxidative desulfurizataion (ODS) catalytic system composed of Na2WO4, 30% H2O2 and CH3CO2H has been found suitable for the deep removal of sulfur in diesel. By combining ODS and methanol extraction, the sulfur level in a commercial diesel has been reduced from 1100 ppm to 40 ppm. Treatment of model solutions of octane containing dibenzothiophene and 4,6-dimethyl dibenzothiophene with our ODS system shows 100% conversion of the thiophenes to sulfones at 70 °C in less than 1 h.