Metal–organic framework (UIO-66-NH2)-encapsulated peroxophosphotungstate (PW4) loaded on graphene oxide (GO) as catalyst for desulfurization of fuel

A composite PW 4 @UIO-66-NH 2 /GO was designed and prepared via facile in-situ synthesis method for catalytic oxidation desulfurization of fuel. The proper sizes (window size and pore size) of UIO-66-NH 2 can effective sealing PW 4 as monomolecular active component and prevent PW 4 leaching during the reaction process. At the same time, the introduction of GO can improve the electron transfer of the catalyst. Characterization tests showed that the active component PW 4 was successfully encapsulated with a loading amount of 0.19 mmol/g. The desulfurization results indicated that the PW 4 @UIO-66-NH 2 /GO has excellent catalytic activity, which can remove 99.9% sulfides in model fuel, and the activity did not decrease obviously after repeated use for ten times. The good activity and reusability of PW 4 @UIO-66-NH 2 /GO attributes to the introduction of GO and UIO-66-NH 2 . In addition, based on GC-MS and EPR results, a possible mechanism of desulfurization reaction was proposed.