Title : Metal decorated 2D MXene-based catalyst for efficient deep oxidative desulfurization
Abstract:
The removal of sulfur-containing compounds from fuels is crucial for reducing environmental pollution and meeting stringent regulations for fossil fuels quality. Oxidative desulfurization (ODS) has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional hydrodesulfurization (HDS) due to its milder operating conditions and high selectivity for deeply removal of refractory aromatic sulfur compounds. In this study, we report the development of a two-dimensional (2D) MXene-based molybdenum (Mo) catalyst for highly efficient ODS. The MXene support, synthesized via hydrofluoric acid (HF) etching of the MAX phase, provides a high surface and strong metal-support interactions, enhancing the catalytic performance of Mo species.
The successful synthesis and structural integrity of the Mo/MXene catalyst were confirmed through different characterization methods. The catalytic activity was evaluated for the ODS of dibenzothiophene (DBT) as a model of refractory thiophenic sulfur compounds remained in the fuel after conventional HD. The Mo/MXene catalyst exhibited high desulfurization efficiency aunder mild reaction conditions (80 °C, 120 min reaction time, O/S molar ratio of 6, and catalyst loading of 0.25 g/L) reaching 100% DB elimination. An excellent stability and reusability was explored, making this nadvanced catalyst a promising candidate for practical applications in fuel purification.
This study highlights the potential of MXene-supported metal catalysts as advanced materials for efficient and sustainable desulfurization technologies. The synergistic effect between MXene’s sheet-like properties and Mo’s catalytic activity contributes to enhanced ODS performance, providing a novel approach for next-generation fuel processing.
