The
objective of this work is to explore ultra-deep oxidative desulfurization
(ODS) of real diesel using two-layer silica gels as both the guard
adsorbent and oxidation catalyst under mild conditions. A series of
commercial silica gels were screened for ODS in the presence of cumene
hydrogen peroxide, with the dibenzothiophene conversion varying diversely
from 1.2 to 99.8%. The best silica gel SC-2 is capable of treating
>375 cm3 of simulated diesel per gram of catalyst with
∼3 ppmw S at 373 K. Fairly trace Ti species of ∼0.02
wt % in silica gel was detected and quantified by inductively coupled
plasma, which was identified as the major Lewis acidic species correlating
to the high ODS conversion. Moreover, the effects of real diesel composition,
including model aromatics, olefin, oxygen fuel additive, and trace
organonitrogen compounds, on ODS using silica gel were investigated,
where nitrogen compounds, such as indole, were identified as major
inhibitors, even at a low concentration of 150 ppmw. Accordingly,
guard adsorbents were investigated for adsorptive denitrogenation
prior to ODS, the N-capacity followed the order of SC-2 ∼ AC
> Al2O3 > 13X. The layered-bed combination
for
deep desulfurization was optimized to be 5 and 2.5 mg/mL of SC-2,
respectively, as the guard adsorbent and oxidation catalyst. The matrix
is capable of processing deep-desulfurized diesel below 10 ppm with
the total sulfur capacity of up to 4.2 mg-S/g. The process using two-layer
commercial silica gel beds provides a new path for ultra-deep oxidative
desulfurization of diesel under mild conditions.