Oxidative desulfurization of dibenzothiophene catalyzed by peroxotungstate on functionalized MCM-41 materials using hydrogen peroxide as oxidant

Catalysts play an important role in oxidative desulfurization, a promising process for producing cleaner fossil fuels for transport. A highly efficient catalyst, Q 4 -H 2 Se IV 3 W 6 , for the oxidative desulfurization of dibenzothiophene (DBT) was reported in 2011. To comprehensively evaluate this catalyst and better understand its recovery, two types of the catalyst were prepared by impregnating Q 4 -H 2 Se IV 3 W 6 on MCM-41 and functionalized MCM-41 materials. In the oxidative desulfurization process catalyzed by these supported catalysts, the conversion of DBT reached 98.7%. The catalytic activities were excellent when Q 4 -H 2 Se IV 3 W 6 was impregnated on functionalized MCM-41. The results showed that the supported catalysts had excellent reusability. In addition, a mechanism for the catalytic oxidative desulfurization was proposed.