Interface engineering of quaternary ammonium phosphotungstate for efficient oxidative desulfurization of high-sulfur petroleum coke

Reducing the sulfur content in high-sulfur petroleum coke (HSPC) has become an urgent issue, however, remains a great challenge with the development of petroleum refining industry. Herein, a highly-efficient catalyst quaternary ammonium phosphotungstate ionic liquid [(C4H9)(4)N](3)PW12O40 (C4@HPA) was initiated to activate H2O2, and the sulfur content of HSPC was remarkably decreased from 4.46 wt.% to 2.76 wt.% at a relatively mild temperature (70 C-o), which is discernible below than 1400 C-o in industry. The characterization results showed that only sulfate can be removed, while sulfoxide and sulfone were retained in petroleum coke. Moreover, the desulfurization activity of C4@HPA/H2O2 to thiophene sulfides decreases as follows: Thiophene > 2-Methylthiophene > 2,5-Dimethylthiophene > Dibenzothiophene > 4-Methyldibenzothiophene. It reveals that the sulfur of 4-MDBT is the most difficult to be removed. Therefore, this founding here may shine light on the understanding and construction of efficient catalyst for desulfurization of high-sulfur petroleum coke in industry.