Ionic Liquids: Environmentally Benign Solvent for Extractive Deep-desulfurization of Liquid Fuels

Abstract

In order to obtain the ultra-low sulfur fuels, deep desulfurization of fuels has become a vital subject of environmental studies. Extraction desulfurization system is one of the most promising desulfurization processes. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible use of Ionic liquids as an extractant for the removal of dibenzothiophene. Ionic Liquids as green solvents have recently been undergoing intensive research on the removal of thiophenic sulfur species from liquid fuels because of the limitations of the tradition hydrodesulfurization process in removing these species. In this work, deep extractive desulfurization of liquid fuels by Ten ILs were screened and employed as promising extractants for liquid fuel containing dibenzothiophene. 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide [BMIM]Br was the most promising and novel ILs and performed the best among the studied ILs under the same operating conditions. It can remove DBT from the liquid fuel in the single stage extraction process with the maximum desulfurization efficiency.

Keywords: Extractive desulfurization, Liquid fuel, Ionic liquids, Industrial application