Desulfurization of Model Oil by Extraction with Pyridinium-Based Ionic Liquids

This report contains the study on Desulfurization of Model Oil by Extraction with Pyridinium-Based Ionic Liquids. The objective of the project is to determine the sulfur-compound (Benzothiophene, BT) removal efficiency of pyridine-based ionic liquids ([MPy][DMP]) from model oil. The challenge in this project is preparation of pyridinium-based ionic liquid followed by characterization using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) analyzer and Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) analyzer. Lab testing has been done by using different sulfur-containing compounds and different ionic liquids. The efficiency of the removal process has been determined using CHNS analyzer. 1-Methylpyridinium Dimethylphosphate, [MPy][DMP] can be synthesized via one-pot method with high yield, easy purification and low cost. The preparation of [MPy[BMP] was carried out in the laboratory starting from the purification of 1-Methylpyridine till drying of the ionic liquid. Then, [MPy][DMP] has been washed with diethyl ether as solvent for 2-3 times before proceeding with the drying process using rotary evaporator. The experiment went well and the ionic liquid was successfully synthesized based on the result of drying of ionic liquid. [MPy][DMP] was used to extract different percentages (2% and 6%) of sulfur compound, benzothiophene (BT) from model oil. The percentage sulfur removal from the model oil were, 33% and 47% respectively. Commercial ionic liquid, Methylmidazolium Trimetylphosphate, [MMim][DMP] was used for comparison with the efficiency of ionic liquid prepared. The extraction results seem promising to be commercialized since the extraction performance for each sample ranging from 60% to 61% which is quite high.