V2O5-polyimide hybrid material: synthesis, characterization, and sulfur removal properties in fuels

We describe the synthesis of a new sorbent material for desulfurization of gasoline, which is composed of polyimide (PI) and vanadium pentoxide via the solution direct-dispersing method. The highly porous PI-V2O5 hybrid materials, containing different concentrations of V2O5 ranging from 1 to 10 wt%, were prepared from pyromellitic dianhydride, 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidine, and vanadium pentoxide. The produced PI-V2O5 composites were investigated by X-ray diffraction analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, and thermal analysis techniques. The effect of V2O5 on the sulfur removal properties as well as the thermal stability and porous structure of composites were investigated. Then the obtained material was investigated to determine their sorption characteristics for sulfur compounds from fuels. By use of this material, 91 wt% of the sulfur content was removed from sulfur-containing standard oil. An economic sensitive and simple method for the removal and separation of sulfur in fuel samples, using an PI-V2O5 packed mini chromatographic column, was established.