Oxidative Desulfurization of Model Diesel Fuel by Vanadium Granular-Shape Mesoporous (V/GMS) Silica System as Nanocatalyst

Abstract

The performance of V-containing granular-shape mesoporous (V/GSM) silica systems in oxidative desulfurization of model diesel fuel was studied. FTIR, XRD, SEM, TEM, N₂ adsorption-desorption, UV-Vis, and NH₃-TPD techniques were used to analyze the surface properties of the functionalized catalyst. The mesostructure of silica remains intact after vanadium modifications as shown by XRD and adsorption-desorption analysis, while spectroscopy indicates the successful impregnation of neat vanadium oxide inside the porous silica support. The oxidation desulfurization of model diesel fuel was effectively catalyzed by this catalyst and the highest activity was shown by 4.8% V/GSM catalyst. Compared with their conventional V/MCF and V/MCM-41 counterparts, SSM-supported vanadium catalysts showed much higher activity. This may be associated with the higher reducibility and better diffusion of reactants and products in V/MCF and V/MCM-41catalysts.