Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.3
3.9
Journals
Catalysts
Special Issues
Designing Catalytic Desulfurization Processes to Prepare Clean Fuels
share announcement

Designing Catalytic Desulfurization Processes to Prepare Clean Fuels

A special issue of Catalysts (ISSN 2073-4344). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Catalysis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2023) | Viewed by 9940

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Salete Balula

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
LAQV-REQUIMTE Associate Laboratory, University of Porto, Porto 4169-007, Portugal
Interests: heterogeneous catalysts; polyoxometalates; catalytic metal-organic frameworks; sustainable catalytic processes; oxidation catalysis; hydrogen peroxide; desulfurization; glycerol oxidation; deep-eutectic solvents
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Fátima Mirante

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
REQUIMTE/LAQV & Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
Interests: eco-sustainable catalytic systems; heterogeneous catalysis; sulfur compounds oxidation; desulfurization processes; polyoxometalate (POM); silica functionalized materials; glycerol oxidation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sulfur compounds in fuels are the main reason for acid rain and environmental pollution. The combustion of fossil fuels generates emissions of sulfur such as sulfur dioxide (SO2), which is corrosive and toxic, and as fine particulate matter of metal sulfates. In response to this, the specifications of govern transportation fuels have been increasing severely with respect to sulfur content over the years. The strict regulations imposed have required the development of novel technologies with higher cost efficiency and sustainability, adapted to a variety of different fuels, presenting distinct properties and sulfur contents. The actual desulfurization method in the world refineries, i.e., hydrodesulfurization, has been adjusted to meet the tight specifications of the current limit imposed by government directives; however, the extreme severe conditions required (high temperature, pressure, and consumption of large amounts of hydrogen) are affecting the economic viability of the process. On the other hand, the hydrodesulfurization process is unviable to treat certain types of fuels, such as heavy fuel oil.

Catalytic processes can be used to improve or even replace the actual hydrodesulfurization. Therefore, this Special Issue aims to outline promising catalytic desulfurization technologies to treat fuels, designing novel cost-effective and sustainable processes. These can include biocatalysis, extractive, oxidation, adsorptive processes, etc., with viability for industrial application. Submissions are welcome in the form of original research manuscripts or critical review papers that represent the scientific field.

Dr. Salete Balula
Dr. Fátima Mirante
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Catalysts is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Sulfur compounds Catalysts Desulfurization processes Clean fuels Materials

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (6 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

14 pages, 4220 KiB  
Article
Enhancement of Sulfur Oxide Capture Capacity by Deposition of Iron Oxide Particles on Graphene Oxide
by Tanushree Sankar Sanyal, Amanda Ineza Mugisha, Andrew Sowinski and Clémence Fauteux-Lefebvre
Catalysts 2023, 13(12), 1469; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal13121469 - 24 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1016
Abstract
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a known pollutant that must be captured from gas streams. Dry desulfurization processes are investigated due to their lower energy requirement and potentially high capture efficiency. Carbon materials and metal oxides have been shown to have an [...] Read more.
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a known pollutant that must be captured from gas streams. Dry desulfurization processes are investigated due to their lower energy requirement and potentially high capture efficiency. Carbon materials and metal oxides have been shown to have an affinity with SO2. The aim of this study was to combine iron oxide and graphene oxide (GO) as a composite material for SO2 capture for low-concentration streams. Iron oxide particles were prepared using a polyol method in which the precursor was dispersed in ethylene glycol, heated under reflux and then deposited on GO, a two-dimensional, single-layer material with a surface area of 400 m2/g. The synthesized material was tested for continuous desulfurization in a flow-through capture system with a stream of gas containing 25 ppm SO2 entering at 20 °C and 100 °C. Under all conditions tested, the breakthrough times, evaluated when the SO2 started to be detected at the outlet with a concentration of 1 ppm, as well as the capture capacities, were significantly higher for the iron oxide GO composite than for the pristine GO alone. The presence of sulfur compounds as well as the composite composition were confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The breakthrough experiment results at various temperatures also suggest that the capture was not governed only by pure physical adsorption with the presence of iron oxide. Addition of iron oxide particles positively influences SO2 affinity with the synthesized material as shown by the increase in breakthrough time and capture capacity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Designing Catalytic Desulfurization Processes to Prepare Clean Fuels)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

16 pages, 9689 KiB  
Article
Design of Highly Efficient Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese-Molybdenum (NCMM) Nano-Catalysts Supported on Activated Carbon for Desulfurization Process
by Shymaa A. Hameed, Raja Ben Amar, Khaleel I. Hamad, Aysar T. Jarullah and Iqbal M. Mujtaba
Catalysts 2023, 13(8), 1196; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal13081196 - 10 Aug 2023
Viewed by 848
Abstract
To maintain a healthy environment and way of life in the modern world, clean fuel must be produced. It is important to totally and successfully remove sulfur-containing harmful compounds from fuel oil in order to comply with the new sulfur legislation. Numerous methods [...] Read more.
To maintain a healthy environment and way of life in the modern world, clean fuel must be produced. It is important to totally and successfully remove sulfur-containing harmful compounds from fuel oil in order to comply with the new sulfur legislation. Numerous methods have been proposed in the literature for desulfurizing fuel oil. In this study, activated carbon (AC), which is regarded as a significant porous material, is derived from agro-wastes such as apricot shells (AS) and is loaded with different combinations of active metals. Nickel–Cobalt–Manganese (NCM) over AC is firstly prepared and evaluated experimentally. Then, several concentrations of Molybdenum (1%, 2% and 3%) are separately added to NCM to generate three novel composite mesoporous nano-catalysts (NCMM_1, NCMM_2 and NCMM_3). Several tests have been carried out to determine the catalysts’ properties, such as BETsurface area, pore volume, FTIR, TGA and SEM, XRF and XRD. These catalysts are then used in the batch oxidative desulfurization process to remove sulfur compounds from wide cut oil (from IBP to 345 °C). The pilot plant conditions were as follows: air flow rate = 120 L/h, reaction temperature = 363 K and reaction time of 1 h for all catalysts. Remarkable characteristics have been noticed, and it was discovered that the nano-catalyst NCMM_2 performed better in terms of degree of sulfur removal compared to other nano-catalysts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Designing Catalytic Desulfurization Processes to Prepare Clean Fuels)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 3719 KiB  
Article
Removal of Organic Sulfur Pollutants from Gasification Gases at Intermediate Temperature by Means of a Zinc–Nickel-Oxide Sorbent for Integration in Biofuel Production
by Josemaria Sánchez-Hervás, Isabel Ortiz, Veronica Martí and Alberto Andray
Catalysts 2023, 13(7), 1089; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal13071089 - 11 Jul 2023
Viewed by 1298
Abstract
Production of renewable fuels from gasification is based on catalytic processes. Deep desulfurization is required to avoid the poisoning of the catalysts. It means the removal of H2S but also of organic sulfur species. Conventional cleaning consists of a several-step complex [...] Read more.
Production of renewable fuels from gasification is based on catalytic processes. Deep desulfurization is required to avoid the poisoning of the catalysts. It means the removal of H2S but also of organic sulfur species. Conventional cleaning consists of a several-step complex approach comprising catalytic hydro-treating followed by H2S removal. In this work, a single-stage process using a zinc and nickel oxide sorbent has been investigated for the removal of organic sulfur species present in syngas. The process is called reactive adsorption and comes from the refinery industry. The challenge investigated by CIEMAT was to prove for the first time that the concept is also valid for syngas. We have studied the process at a lab scale. Thiophene and benzothiophene, two of the main syngas organic sulfur compounds, were selected as target species to remove. The experimental study comprised the analysis of the effect of temperature (250–450 °C), pressure (1–10 bar), space velocity (2000–3500 h−1), tar components (toluene), sulfur species (H2S), and syngas components (H2, CO, and full syngas CO/CO2/CH4/H2). Operating conditions for removal of thiophene and benzothiophene were determined. Increasing pressure and temperature had a positive effect, and full conversion was achieved at 450 °C, 10 bar and 3500 h−1, accompanied by simultaneous hydrogen sulfide capture by the sorbent in accordance with the reactive adsorption desulfurization (RADS) process. Space velocity and hydrogen content in the syngas had little effect on desulfurization. Thiophene conversions from 39% to 75% were obtained when feeding synthetic syngas mimicking different compositions, spanning from air to steam-oxygen-blown gasification. Toluene, as a model tar component present in syngas, did not strongly affect the removal of thiophene and benzothiophene. H2S inhibited their conversion, falling, respectively, to 2% and 69% at 350 °C and 30% and 80% at 400 °C under full syngas blends. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Designing Catalytic Desulfurization Processes to Prepare Clean Fuels)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 6088 KiB  
Article
Feedback Inhibition of DszC, a Crucial Enzyme for Crude Oil Biodessulfurization
by Rui P. P. Neves, Bruno Araújo, Maria J. Ramos and Pedro A. Fernandes
Catalysts 2023, 13(4), 736; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal13040736 - 13 Apr 2023
Viewed by 1165
Abstract
The Rhodococcus erythropolis (strain IGTS8) bacterium has a tremendous industrial interest as it can remove sulfur from crude oil through its four-enzyme (DszA-D) 4S metabolic pathway. DszC is one of the rate-limiting enzymes of the pathway and the one that most suffers from [...] Read more.
The Rhodococcus erythropolis (strain IGTS8) bacterium has a tremendous industrial interest as it can remove sulfur from crude oil through its four-enzyme (DszA-D) 4S metabolic pathway. DszC is one of the rate-limiting enzymes of the pathway and the one that most suffers from feedback inhibition. We have combined molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations to identify binding sites through which two products of the 4S pathway, 2-hydroxybiphenyl and 2′-hydroxybiphenyl-2-sulfinate, induce DszC feedback inhibition. We have identified four potential binding sites: two adjacent binding sites close to the 280–295 lid loop proposed to contribute to DszC oligomerization and proper binding of the flavin mononucleotide cofactor, and two other close to the active site of DszC and the substrate binding site. By considering (i) the occupancy of the binding sites and (ii) the similar inhibitor poses, we propose that the mechanism of feedback inhibition of DszC occurs through disturbance of the DszC oligomerization and consequent binding of the flavin mononucleotide due to the weakening of the interactions between the 280–295 lid loop, and both the 131–142 loop and the C-terminal tail. Nevertheless, inhibitor binding close to the active site or the substrate binding sites also compromises critical interactions within the active site of DszC. The disclosed molecular details provide valuable insight for future rational enzyme engineering protocols to develop DszC mutants more resistant against the observed feedback inhibition mechanism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Designing Catalytic Desulfurization Processes to Prepare Clean Fuels)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 2510 KiB  
Article
Lindqvist versus Keggin-Type Polyoxometalates as Catalysts for Effective Desulfurization of Fuels
by Simone Fernandes, Fátima Mirante, Baltazar de Castro, Carlos M. Granadeiro and Salete S. Balula
Catalysts 2022, 12(6), 581; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal12060581 - 25 May 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2150
Abstract
A correlation between polyoxotungstate structures and their catalytic performance for oxidative desulfurization processes was investigated. Bridged lanthanopolyoxometalates that incorporate identical metallic centers with Keggin- Eu[PW11O39]11− and Lindqvist-type [Eu(W5O18)2]9− structures were used [...] Read more.
A correlation between polyoxotungstate structures and their catalytic performance for oxidative desulfurization processes was investigated. Bridged lanthanopolyoxometalates that incorporate identical metallic centers with Keggin- Eu[PW11O39]11− and Lindqvist-type [Eu(W5O18)2]9− structures were used as catalysts for the oxidation of the most representative refractory sulfur compounds. Both compounds were able to desulfurize a multicomponent model diesel under sustainable conditions, i.e., using ionic liquid as an extraction solvent and hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant. However, the Lindqvist catalyst appeared to achieve complete desulfurization faster than the Keggin catalyst while using a lesser amount of catalyst and oxidant. Furthermore, the reusable capacity of the Lindqvist-type [Eu(W5O18)2]9− was confirmed for consecutive oxidative desulfurization processes. The contribution of the lanthanide metallic center for the catalytic performance of these compounds was investigated by studying the analogous [TB(W5O18)2]9− compound. Identical desulfurization efficiency was obtained, even reusing this catalyst in consecutive reaction cycles. These results indicate that the active catalytic center of these compounds is probably related to the octahedral tungsten centers. However, a higher number of tungsten centers in the polyoxometalate structure did not result in higher catalytic activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Designing Catalytic Desulfurization Processes to Prepare Clean Fuels)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 3992 KiB  
Article
Aerobic Oxidative Desulfurization of Liquid Fuel Catalyzed by P–Mo–V Heteropoly Acids in the Presence of Aldehyde
by Reem Ghubayra, Rachel Hindle, Rana Yahya, Elena F. Kozhevnikova and Ivan V. Kozhevnikov
Catalysts 2021, 11(8), 988; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal11080988 - 18 Aug 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2300
Abstract
Aerobic oxidative desulfurization (ODS) of model liquid fuel (dodecane spiked with dibenzothiophene (DBT)) was carried out in the presence of bulk and supported Keggin-type heteropoly acids H3+nPMo12-nVnO40 (HPA-n, n = 0–3) as heterogeneous catalysts and benzaldehyde [...] Read more.
Aerobic oxidative desulfurization (ODS) of model liquid fuel (dodecane spiked with dibenzothiophene (DBT)) was carried out in the presence of bulk and supported Keggin-type heteropoly acids H3+nPMo12-nVnO40 (HPA-n, n = 0–3) as heterogeneous catalysts and benzaldehyde as a sacrificial reductant. In the presence of bulk H4PMo11VO40 (HPA-1), 100% of DBT was removed from fuel (converted to DBT sulfone) at 60 °C and ambient air pressure. Multiple catalyst reuse without loss of activity was demonstrated. The ODS reaction was strongly inhibited by radical scavengers. An unbranched radical chain mechanism was proposed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Designing Catalytic Desulfurization Processes to Prepare Clean Fuels)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-6
Back to TopTop