Desulfurization of model and real fuels by extraction and oxidation processes using an indenylmolybdenum tricarbonyl pre-catalyst

Regulations on the permissible levels of sulfur in transportation fuels are becoming ever more strict, with a global shift towards “zero sulfur” fuels, and the revamp of existing hydrodesulfurization (HDS) facilities to meet these lower caps is cost-prohibitive. Metal-catalyzed sulfoxidation chemistry is viewed as an economically viable desulfurization strategy that could complement conventional HDS technology. In the present work, the complex η⁵-IndMo(CO)₃Me] ( 1 ) (Ind = indenyl) was employed in the catalytic oxidative desulfurization (CODS) of model and real liquid fuels, using aqueous hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) as oxidant. After optimization of the CODS reaction parameters (diesel/H₂O₂ ratio, catalyst amount, temperature), a high-sulfur (2000 ppm) model diesel containing benzothiophene, dibenzothiophene, 4-methyldibenzothiophene and 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene could be completely desulfurized within 2 hr under solvent-free conditions or in the presence of the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIM]PF₆) as extraction solvent. The catalyst formed under solvent-free conditions could be recycled without a significant decrease in desulfurization activity. The high performance of the CODS system was verified in the sulfur removal from a commercial untreated diesel fuel with a sulfur content of 2300 ppm, and a jet fuel with a sulfur content of 1100 ppm. Solvent-free CODS in combination with initial/final extraction gave desulfurization efficiencies of 70% for the diesel fuel and 55% for the jet fuel. CODS with BMIM]PF₆ in combination with initial/final extraction led to a sulfur removal of 95.9% for the diesel fuel, which is one of the best results yet reported for ODS of commercial diesels.