PHOTOOXIDA TIVE-EXTRACTIVE DEEP DESULFURTZA TION OF DIESEL FUEL USING Cu-Fe/Ti02 AND EUTECTIC-BASED TONIC LIQUIDS

Due to the dramatic environmental impact of sulfur oxides contained in engines
emissions, sulfur content specification in fuels are becoming more and more stringent
worldwide. Hydrodesulfurization (HDS) is the conventional process to reduce sulfur
levels if the fuels. However, HDS requires high temperature and high pressure in
order to eliminate the sulfur species. Refractory sulfur species such as
dibenzothiophene and its alkyl derivatives are less reactive to this process. Due to this
reason, alternative sulfur removal methods are being explored. An efficient
photooxidative-extractive system for deep desulfurization of model fuel and actual
diesel fuel was explored. A series of monometallic (Cu!Ti02 and Fe/Ti02) and
bimetallic (Cu-Fe/Ti02) photocatalysis were synthesized and characterized using
Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission
Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) coupled with Energy Dispersive X-Ray
analysis (EDX), High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) and
Diffuse Reflectance UV-Visible Spectroscopy (DR-UV-Vis), Fourier Transform
Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS),
Temperature Programmed Reduction analysis (TPR) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller
(BET) surface area and porosity analysis. The Ti02 were synthesized employing solgel
hydrothermal method. The Ti02 was then modified with metal dopants (i.e Cu
or/and Fe) by wet-impregnation method to extend the absorbance capacity of the
photocatalyst in the visible region. The photocatalyst preparation and photooxidation
parameters for photooxidative-ectractive deep desulfurization under visible light
illumination were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM).