Imidazolium-based Alkylsulfate Ionic Liquids and Removal of Sulfur Content From Model of Gasoline

Abstract

Two ionic liquids, butyl-methyl-imidazolium octylsulfate, [BMIM][OCSO4], and ethyl-methyl-imidazolium ethylsulfate, [EMIM][EtSO4], were demonstrated to be effective for the removal of aromatic sulfur compounds such as benzothiophene and thiophene from model of gasoline. Organic compounds with higher aromatic π-electron density were favorably adsorbed by using ionic liquids. It was shown that the extractive ability of the alkylsulfate ILs was dominated by the structure and size of cation and anion. The cation and anion structure and size of ionic liquids are important factors affecting the absorption capacity for aromatic compounds. It is found that [BMIM][OCSO4] has the best effect on the selective removal of sulfur compounds from gasoline. Sulfur extractive selectivity for specified IL followed the order BT>T>3-MT>2-MT.