Vanadium and titanium oxide supported on mesoporous CMK-3 as new catalysts for oxidative desulfurization

Abstract

Vanadium supported-CMK-3 catalysts with vanadium loading of 1–7 wt.% were studied in the oxidative desulfurization (ODS) of dibenzothiophene as a model sulfur compound. The activity was compared with titanium supported-CMK-3. Structural and textural characterization of the catalysts was performed by means of N2 adsorption, XRD, UV–vis–DRS, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, TEM and TPR. The dispersion and the nature of the vanadium species depend on the V loading, so does the catalyst activity. Vanadium supported-CMK-3 with 7 wt.% of vanadium loading was the most active catalyst for ODS of DBT using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as oxidant and acetonitrile as solvent. 100% of DBT elimination was attained at short time in mild conditions. Carbon ordered mesoporous CMK-3 with high surface area and high pore volume promotes a very good anchorage of metallic oxides in the carbons framework reaching high active sites distribution and more stable nanoclusters. The reusability of the catalyst indicates that V-CMK-3 is a potential catalyst for the ODS of dibenzothiophene.