Special Issue "Designing Catalytic Desulfurization Processes to Prepare Clean Fuels"

A special issue of Catalysts (ISSN 2073-4344). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Catalysis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2023 | Viewed by 3322

Special Issue Editors

LAQV-REQUIMTE Associate Laboratory, University of Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
Interests: heterogeneous catalysts; polyoxometalates; catalytic metal-organic frameworks; sustainable catalytic processes; oxidation catalysis; hydrogen peroxide; desulfurization; glycerol oxidation; deep-eutectic solvents
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
REQUIMTE/LAQV & Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
Interests: eco-sustainable catalytic systems; heterogeneous catalysis; sulfur compounds oxidation; desulfurization processes; polyoxometalate (POM); silica functionalized materials; glycerol oxidation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sulfur compounds in fuels are the main reason for acid rain and environmental pollution. The combustion of fossil fuels generates emissions of sulfur such as sulfur dioxide (SO2), which is corrosive and toxic, and as fine particulate matter of metal sulfates. In response to this, the specifications of govern transportation fuels have been increasing severely with respect to sulfur content over the years. The strict regulations imposed have required the development of novel technologies with higher cost efficiency and sustainability, adapted to a variety of different fuels, presenting distinct properties and sulfur contents. The actual desulfurization method in the world refineries, i.e., hydrodesulfurization, has been adjusted to meet the tight specifications of the current limit imposed by government directives; however, the extreme severe conditions required (high temperature, pressure, and consumption of large amounts of hydrogen) are affecting the economic viability of the process. On the other hand, the hydrodesulfurization process is unviable to treat certain types of fuels, such as heavy fuel oil.

Catalytic processes can be used to improve or even replace the actual hydrodesulfurization. Therefore, this Special Issue aims to outline promising catalytic desulfurization technologies to treat fuels, designing novel cost-effective and sustainable processes. These can include biocatalysis, extractive, oxidation, adsorptive processes, etc., with viability for industrial application. Submissions are welcome in the form of original research manuscripts or critical review papers that represent the scientific field.

Dr. Salete Balula
Dr. Fátima Mirante
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • Sulfur compounds Catalysts Desulfurization processes Clean fuels Materials

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

Article
Lindqvist versus Keggin-Type Polyoxometalates as Catalysts for Effective Desulfurization of Fuels
Catalysts 2022, 12(6), 581; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal12060581 - 25 May 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1085
Abstract
A correlation between polyoxotungstate structures and their catalytic performance for oxidative desulfurization processes was investigated. Bridged lanthanopolyoxometalates that incorporate identical metallic centers with Keggin- Eu[PW11O39]11− and Lindqvist-type [Eu(W5O18)2]9− structures were used [...] Read more.
A correlation between polyoxotungstate structures and their catalytic performance for oxidative desulfurization processes was investigated. Bridged lanthanopolyoxometalates that incorporate identical metallic centers with Keggin- Eu[PW11O39]11− and Lindqvist-type [Eu(W5O18)2]9− structures were used as catalysts for the oxidation of the most representative refractory sulfur compounds. Both compounds were able to desulfurize a multicomponent model diesel under sustainable conditions, i.e., using ionic liquid as an extraction solvent and hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant. However, the Lindqvist catalyst appeared to achieve complete desulfurization faster than the Keggin catalyst while using a lesser amount of catalyst and oxidant. Furthermore, the reusable capacity of the Lindqvist-type [Eu(W5O18)2]9− was confirmed for consecutive oxidative desulfurization processes. The contribution of the lanthanide metallic center for the catalytic performance of these compounds was investigated by studying the analogous [TB(W5O18)2]9− compound. Identical desulfurization efficiency was obtained, even reusing this catalyst in consecutive reaction cycles. These results indicate that the active catalytic center of these compounds is probably related to the octahedral tungsten centers. However, a higher number of tungsten centers in the polyoxometalate structure did not result in higher catalytic activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Designing Catalytic Desulfurization Processes to Prepare Clean Fuels)
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Article
Aerobic Oxidative Desulfurization of Liquid Fuel Catalyzed by P–Mo–V Heteropoly Acids in the Presence of Aldehyde
Catalysts 2021, 11(8), 988; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal11080988 - 18 Aug 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1484
Abstract
Aerobic oxidative desulfurization (ODS) of model liquid fuel (dodecane spiked with dibenzothiophene (DBT)) was carried out in the presence of bulk and supported Keggin-type heteropoly acids H3+nPMo12-nVnO40 (HPA-n, n = 0–3) as heterogeneous catalysts and benzaldehyde [...] Read more.
Aerobic oxidative desulfurization (ODS) of model liquid fuel (dodecane spiked with dibenzothiophene (DBT)) was carried out in the presence of bulk and supported Keggin-type heteropoly acids H3+nPMo12-nVnO40 (HPA-n, n = 0–3) as heterogeneous catalysts and benzaldehyde as a sacrificial reductant. In the presence of bulk H4PMo11VO40 (HPA-1), 100% of DBT was removed from fuel (converted to DBT sulfone) at 60 °C and ambient air pressure. Multiple catalyst reuse without loss of activity was demonstrated. The ODS reaction was strongly inhibited by radical scavengers. An unbranched radical chain mechanism was proposed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Designing Catalytic Desulfurization Processes to Prepare Clean Fuels)
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