Synthesis, Characterization and Application of 1‐Butyl‐3 Methylimidazolium Chloride as Green Material for Extractive Desulfurization of Liquid Fuel

Abstract

The possible application of imidazolium ionic liquids as energy-efficient green material for extractive deep desulfurization of liquid fuel has been investigated. 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [BMIM]Cl was synthesized by nucleophilic substitution reaction of n-methylimidazolium and 1-chlorobutane. Molecular structures of the ILs were confirmed by FTIR, 1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR. The thermal properties, conductivity, solubility, water content and viscosity analysis of [BMIM]Cl were carried out. The effects of reaction time, reaction temperature, sulfur compounds, and recycling of IL without regeneration on dibenzothiophene removal of liquid fuel were presented. In the extractive desulfurization process, the removal of dibenzothiophene in n-dodecane using [BMIM]Cl was 81% with mass ratio of 1 : 1, in 30 min at 30°C under the mild reaction conditions. Also, desulfurization of real fuels with IL and multistage extraction were studied. The results of this work might offer significant insights in the perceptive use of imidazoled ILs as energy-efficient green material for extractive deep desulfurization of liquid fuels as it can be reused without regeneration with considerable extraction efficiency.

A Review on Desulfurization Techniques of Liquid Fuels

“…Babich et al [17] Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY desulfurization via extraction method as shown in the figure [3]. In the mixing tank feedstock is mixed with the solvent and the refractory sulfur compounds are extracted into solvent because of their higher solubility in the solvent.…”

“…Swapnil A. Dharaskar et al [3] reported the extractive desulfurization process of liquid fuels by using of lewisbased ionic liquid ([Bmim]Cl/FeCl 3 ). They also reported that desulfurization via extraction for removal of sulfur compounds from liquid fuels in single extraction at mass ratio of model liquid fuels to ionic liquid 5:1 at 30°C in the water bath for 30 min and sulfur reduction achieved to 75.6%.…”

“…Therefore, several countries keep stringent legislation to extent sulfur content in liquid fuel, such as in European countries sulfur(S) content <10ppm and in USA <15ppm [2]. Presently, Hydrodesulfurization(HDS) process employed to reduce sulfur content from liquid fuels but it requires high operating condition (Temperature, Pressure) and high hydrogen consumption for sulfur removal [3]. HDS process is very effective to remove aromatic sulfur compounds such as thiols, sulfides, and disulfides but it is not efficient to remove more refractory sulfur compounds are Thiophenes (Ts), benzothiophenes (BTs), dibenzothiophene (DBTs), 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophenes (4,6-DMDBTs) and their alkyl derivatives.…”

Imidazolium ionic liquid as energy efficient solvent for desulfurization of liquid fuel

“…Moreover, room-temperature ILs is frequently colourless, fluid, and easy to handle [18][19][20]. They also exhibit many unique advantages compared with conventional organic solvents, such as wide temperature range of application, high thermal stability, nonflammability, wide electrochemical window, high electrical conductivity, and highly favorable solubility of molecules [23,24].…”

Oxidative desulfurization of tire pyrolysis oil

“…The quality enhancement has been carried out in terms of desulfurization and improving other fuel properties. The available literature shows an enormous number of desulfurization techniques including alkylation to shift boiling point of fractions, adsorption, absorption, extraction, catalytic oxidation, oxidative desulfurization, and hydro-desulfurization [7,8]. Oxidative desulfurization is chosen as a low cost alternative technique to hydro-desulfurization, which is well established for desulfurization of petroleum fractions [7].…”