Kinetics of Oxidative Desulfurization of Sulfur Compounds in Diesel Fuel

Abstract

Abstract The oxidation of diesel fuel sample was carried out using tertiary butyl hydroperoxide oxidant in the presence of two commercially available Ni-Mo catalysts. The studies were carried out by changing reaction conditions such as treat ratios (oxidant/sulfur molar ratio), WHSV, temperature, etc., to achieve product diesel with sulfur content of <20 ppm. The results of the study on diesel were compared by carrying out similar experiments on model compound, namely, dibenzothiophene dissolved in sulfur-free liquid paraffin oil. GC-PFPD instrument was used to identify and group different sulfur compounds present in diesel and the kinetics of desulfurization was studied.