Exceptional functionalized ionic liquid@metal-organic framework: A high-efficiency desulfurization platform for organic sulfide oxidation by reactive oxygen species

There is a challenge with designing catalysts that simultaneously possess active sites for catalyzing the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROSs) and effectively overcoming mass transfer resistance in oil-water biphasic systems. In this study, a novel, highly efficient oxidative desulfurization (ODS) strategy is proposed that uses an ILs-loaded metal-organic framework (MOF) coupled material as a catalyst. The IL@MOF ([Hnmp]HSO4@MIL-125(Ti)) coupled material prepared by loading [Hnmp]HSO4 onto MIL-125(Ti) has catalytic-adsorption synergistic capability. It demonstrated outstanding oxidative desulfurization performance by achieving nearly a 100 % removal of dibenzothiophene (DBT) from model oil with a dosage of 0.04 g IL@MOF per 10 mL of model fuel under mild conditions (50 degrees C, 10 min). By comparing the experimental results with the characterization data, it is suggested that [Hnmp]HSO4@MIL-125(Ti) converts superoxide radicals (center dot O-2(-)) into O-1(2) through oxygen vacancies (Ov) and that the catalytic action of Ti on the oxidation of DBT is primarily based on a O-1(2)-driven nonfree radical mechanism. [Hnmp]HSO4@MIL-125(Ti) serves as a favorable medium for contact to be made between ROSs and sulfides, which indicates an efficient catalytic-adsorption synergy.