Ionic liquid-supported 3DOM silica for efficient heterogeneous oxidative desulfurization

It is vital to develop efficient catalysts for desulfurization in fuels, reducing the pollution caused by sulfur oxides. In this study, polyoxometalate-based ionic liquid supported three-dimensionally ordered macroporous silica (IL-3DOM SiO2) was successfully prepared for heterogeneous oxidative desulfurization of aromatic sulfur compounds. The as-prepared material was characterized using FTIR, XRD, XPS, SEM, TEM, and BET analysis, exhibiting a large pore size and a high specific surface area. The hybrid material with a 3DOM structure exhibited excellent desulfurization performance on aromatic sulfur compounds under mild conditions. Furthermore, no obvious decrease in activity was observed after seventeen cycles, revealing a good stability of the hybrid material. The as-prepared IL-3DOM SiO2 is an ideal candidate for applications in the future desulfurization industry.