Photochemical oxidation of thiophenic molecules with peroxides in a microreactor as part of an oxidative fuel desulfurization system

FUEL 197

Alex Yokochi, alex.yokochi@orst.edu, Eilleen Hebert, James Parker, and Goran Jovanovic, goran@che.orst.edu. Department of Chemical Engineering, Oregon State University, 207 Gleeson Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331-2702
Due to recent and proposed regulatory changes, deep desulfurization of transportation fuels is an increasingly important issue. An alternative to deep hydrodesulfurization is oxidative desulfurization: here, the thiophenic sulfur is oxidized to a sulfone, which is then extracted into an aqueous stream to achieve the desired goal.

In order to adequately implement oxidative desulfurization, methods to efficiently implement the oxidative step prior to the extractive step are required. In our laboratory, we have been exploring the use of microstructured reactors that efficiently perform this oxidation step. We have developed a photochemically activated micro-reactor that is able to achieve high oxidation levels with residence times in the order of tens to hundreds of seconds; when coupled with a liquid-liquid extraction step this can achieve deep desulfurization. In this presentation we will discuss experimental results and system modeling of the oxidation of dibenzothiophene in a single phase system using t-butylhydroperoxide as the oxidizer.

 

Ultraclean Transportation Fuels
8:25 AM-12:00 PM, Wednesday, April 9, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Rm. 238, Oral

Division of Fuel Chemistry

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008