ADVANCED HETEROGENEOUS POROUS CATALYSTS FOR DESULFURIZATION OF DIESEL

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Efficient heterogeneous polyoxometalate-hybrid catalysts for the oxidative desulfurization of fuels

Publication . Mirante, Fátima; Dias, Luís; Silva, Mariana; Ribeiro, Susana; Corvo, Marta C.; De Castro, Baltazar; Granadeiro, Carlos; Balula, Salete

The heterogenization of the highly active monovacant polyoxotungstate ([PW11O39](7-), abbreviated as PW11) was achieved by preparing the corresponding long chain quaternary ammonium salt (ODA(7)PW(11), ODA = CH3(CH2)(17)(CH3)(3)N). The complete cation exchange confers total heterogeneity to the monovacant catalyst while keeping its oxidative catalytic activity. In fact, the heterogeneous catalyst allowed for the complete desulfurization of a multicomponent model diesel (2000 ppm S) after 40 min of reaction, conciliating extraction (using BMIMPF6 solvent) and oxidation (ECODS process using H2O2 oxidant). The heterogeneous catalyst has shown a superior desulfurization performance when compared with the homogeneous quaternary ammonium TBAPW(11) catalyst (TBA = (C4H9)(4) N). Both hybrid catalysts have been successfully reused in consecutive ECODS cycles. Additionally, the long carbon chain cations provide a protective environment around the polyoxometalate allowing for ODA(7)PW(11) to retain its heterogeneity and structure after the ECODS process.

2018-01Journal article

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Oxidative desulfurization strategies using Keggin-type polyoxometalate catalysts: Biphasic versus solvent-free systems

Publication . Ribeiro, Susana; Granadeiro, Carlos; Almeida, Pedro L.; Pires, João; Capel-Sanchez, Maria C.; Campos-Martin, J. M.; Gago, S.; De Castro, Baltazar; Balula, Salete

Strategic polyoxometalate Keggin-type structural modification was performed to increase the oxidative catalytic performance to desulfurize model and real diesels. The most active lacunar structure [PW11O39](7-) (PW11) showed to complete desulfurize a simulated diesel after 60 min at 70 degrees C. Its application as homogeneous catalyst using a biphasic system 1: 1 diesel/acetonitrile needed to use an excess of oxidant (ratio H2O2/S = 8). The immobilization of the PW11 on amine-functionalized SBA-15 supports originated two heterogeneous catalysts PW11@aptesSBA-15 and PW11@tbaSBA-15. The best results were attained with the PW11@aptesSBA-15 catalyst showing identical oxidative desulfurization performance as the homogeneous analogue. As advantage, this heterogeneous catalyst promotes the complete desulfurization of simulated diesel using a solvent-free system, i.e. without the need of acetonitrile use. On the other hand, the same desulfurization efficiency could be achieved using half the amount of oxidant (H2O2/S = 4). The oxidative desulfurization of the real diesel achieved a remarkable 83.4% of efficiency after just 2 h. The recycling capacity of PW11@aptesSBA-15 catalyst was confirmed for eight consecutive cycles using the biphasic and the solvent-free systems. Its stability investigation demonstrates to be higher under the solvent-free system than the biphasic system, without practically any occurrence of PW11 leaching in the first case. On the other hand, the Venturello peroxocomplex [PO4{W(O-2)(2)}(4)](3-), recognized as active intermediate in the homogeneous biphasic system, was not identified in the heterogeneous catalytic systems.

2019-08-01Journal article

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Polyoxometalate@Periodic mesoporous organosilicas as active materials for oxidative desulfurization of diesels

Publication . Ribeiro, Susana; Almeida, Pedro L.; Pires, João; De Castro, Baltazar; Balula, Salete

Novel material catalysts based in the active zinc-substituted polyoxotungstate ([PW11Zn(H2O)(39)](5-), abbreviated as PW11Zn) were efficiently used in the oxidative desulfurization of real and model diesels. These active catalytic center was strategically immobilized in a less hydrophilic periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMOs), containing ethane-bridge (PMOE) and benzene-bridge (PMOB) walls, functionalized with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (aptes). The efficiency of the novel catalytic composites (PW11Zn@aptesPMOE and PM11Zn@aptesPMOB) was studied under oxidative desulfurization system (CODS) without the presence of an extraction solvent and also using a biphasic (diesel/extraction solvent) oxidative desulfurization system (ECODS). Both composites presented higher desulfurization efficiency under the solvent-free system, reaching ultra-low levels of sulfur compounds after only 1 h and using low ratio of H2O2/S = 4. The catalysts could be recycled without loss of activity for ten consecutive cycles. However, after the first desulfurization cycle complete desulfurization was achieved within only 30 min using PW11Zn@aptesPMOE composite. Also, the structure of PW it Zn@aptesPMOE demonstrated to be more stable than PW11Zn@aptesPMOB, probably due to the occurrence of some PW11Zn leaching from the PMOB surface, probably caused by the lower interaction of PW11Zn with the benzene-bridge PMOB wall. The most robust catalyst PW11Zn@aptesPMOE was used to desulfurize a real diesel achieving 75.9% of desulfurization after 2 h. The catalyst was further recycled with success to treat real diesel.

2020-08-01Journal article

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