Application of a H4SiMo12O40@SiO2 catalyst with a hollow core–shell structure to oxidative desulfurization

Designing a catalyst with excellent recyclability to improve oxidative desulfurization continues to challenge many researchers. In this study, a H4SiMo12O40@SiO2 catalyst with a core–shell structure was successfully prepared and applied to desulfurize a model oil. Various characterization methods demonstrated that the synthesized H4SiMo12O40@SiO2 catalyst presents a hollow spherical structure and that the active H4SiMo12O40 species is incorporated into the mesoporous SiO2 shell. Under optimal reaction conditions, the desulfurization rate of dibenzothiophene is nearly 100%, and the activation energy of the oxidation reaction of dibenzothiophene is 22.08 kJ mol−1. These results reveal the excellent catalytic activity of H4SiMo12O40@SiO2 for oxidative desulfurization. The catalyst can be recycled by up to 13 times without significant reductions in catalytic activity; such enhanced recyclability may be attributed to the core–shell structure of the synthesized catalyst.