Ultra-deep oxidative desulfurization of diesel fuel with H2O2 catalyzed under mild conditions by polymolybdates supported on Al2O3 Original Research Article

The evaluation of the catalytic oxidative desulfurization (OD) activity of alumina-supported polymolybdates (Mo/Al2O3) was carried out using organosulfur model compounds and diesel fuel. Hydrogen peroxide was the oxidizing reagent. Ultra-deep desulfurization, 97.8% removal of sulfur in diesel fuel, was achieved by reaction under mild conditions followed by solvent extraction. The catalyst was prepared by equilibrium adsorption and characterized by infrared, Raman, X-ray photoelectron, 31P and 27Al MAS NMR spectroscopies. Our results indicate that the phosphomolybdate used during synthesis of the catalysts decomposes and forms hydrated hepta- and octamolybdates as well as phosphate ions on the surface of alumina.