Extractive desulfurization of fuel oil with metal-based ionic liquids

Several metal-based ionic liquids (ILs) were synthesized and used as extractants for the desulfurization of dibenzothiophene (DBT) in simulated fuel oil. The effects of several anion and metal ions, n(ILs)/n(metal) as mole ratio, V-IL/V-oil and extractive times on the removal ratio of DBT were investigated in detail. The results showed that [BMIM]HSO4/FeCl3 (BMIM was short for 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazole) was superior to the other ILs for the extractive desulfurization. A total of 100% of DBT was removed at room temperature in 5 min with V-[BMIM]HSO4/FeCl3 /V-oil = 1: 1. The extractive activity of [BMIM]HSO4/FeCl3 IL did not change almost after five runs. Extractive desulfurization of different sulfur compounds and commercial diesel fuel oil were also examined. The removal ratios of the sulfur compounds as the reaction substrates were all over 90% and the sulfur content of commercial diesel oil decreased to 120 ppm from 12,400 ppm. (C) 2015 Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.