A nanocellulose template strategy for the controllable synthesis of tungsten-containing mesoporous silica for ultra-deep oxidative desulfurization

Abstract

Nanocellulose is a sustainable and ecofriendly nanomaterial derived from renewable biomass. Herein, we developed a novel controllable method for the synthesis of tungsten-containing mesoporous silica catalysts by using nanocellulose templates. Disordered worm-like mesoporous catalysts with a high dispersion of tungsten species were obtained by this method. In particular, the as-prepared catalysts presented high specific surface areas (344–535m2/g), and their pore sizes could be efficiently tuned from 2nm to 10nm by adjusting the amount of bio-template in the synthesis system. The resultant samples were used asa catalyst for oxidative desulfurization (ODS) without any organic solvents as an extractant. The results showed that the catalysts with a large pore size (10nm) and an optimal Si/Wmol ratio (20) exhibited high catalytic activity, and dibenzothiophene could be completely removed at 60°C in 10min. The catalytic activity on different sulfur compounds increased in the order of benzothiophene<4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene<dibenzothiophene. GC–MS analysis of the oxidation products revealed that the catalysts simultaneously acted as both a catalyst and an adsorbent. Moreover, after recycling for five times, the removal of the oxidation desulfurization system could still reach 94%. As this method is sustainable, facile and controllable, the as-prepared catalysts could have potential for practical applications.