Non-Catalytic Oxidative Desulfurization of Diesel Oil Using Ozone in a Biphasic Oil/Acetonitrile System

Abstract

The present work investigates the non-catalytic oxidative desulfurization of diesel oil using ozone in a biphasic oil/acetonitrile system. The organosulfur compounds in diesel could be well extracted to acetonitrile for ozone oxidation. With acetonitrile as the reaction solvent, the oxidation rates of organosulfur compounds sharply increased. The oxidation reactivities of these organosulfur compounds increased in the order of DBT<4,6-DMDBT<BT. GC-MS analysis showed that the oxidation product of BT was 2-mercaptobenzaldehyde, while the oxidation products of DBT and 4,6-DMDBT were their corresponding sulfones. The sulfur content of real diesel could be reduced from 1450 to 48 µg/g in the biphasic oxidation system, and the sulfur removal reached nearly 97%. This process provides a new perspective on ultra-deep desulfurization of diesel fuel.