VOHPO4.5H2O/KIT-6 composites: Preparation and their application in extractive and catalytic oxidation desulfurization of benzothiophene and dibenzothiphene

The catalytic activity of vanadyl hydrogen phosphate hemihydrate (VPO) for deep desulfurization of a model fuel was explored. For this purpose, a series of composites containing different amounts of vanadyl hydrogen phosphate and well-ordered mesoporous silica (KIT-6) were prepared and their structural and textural characterizations were carried out using SEM, TEM, ICP-AES, FT-IR, N2 adsorption-desorption, XPS and XRD techniques. It was found that the catalyst with maximum vanadium phosphate loading (VPKA) shows the highest catalytic activity in dibenzothiophene (DBT) removal through oxidative desulfurization (ODS) process. Different reaction conditions such as temperature, the mole ratio of H2O2:DBT, and catalyst loading were investigated in the catalytic system.