A novel photocatalytic and photoelectrocatalytic system for oxidative desulfurization of model fuel using BiVO4@HKUST-1 composite in powder and deposited on fluorine-doped tin oxide

Abstract

In this study, photocatalytic oxidative desulfurization (PODS), as well as a photoelectrocatalytic oxidative desulfurization (PEODS) process was used for ultra-desulfurization of a model fuel using BiVO4@HKUST-1 composite as the catalyst in powder and deposited form on a fluorine tin oxide glass. Accordingly, the metal–organic framework HKUST-1 was synthesized and modified by the addition of BiVO4 to form the BiVO4@HKUST-1 photocatalyst. The composite, as well as pristine BiVO4 and HKSUT-1 samples were used for oxidative desulfurization under catalytic, photocatalytic, and eletrophotocatalytic conditions. The best results were observed for the BiVO4@HKUST-1 composite under photocatalytic desulfurization. The effect of different parameters such as reaction time, temperature, oxidizing agent, extractant solvent, catalyst amount, and solvents was investigated. Under optimal conditions, the dibenzothiophene (DBT) removal reached 95% in the PODS system. In comparison between photocatalytic and photoelectrocatalytic systems, PEODS gave the same results at the lower time and lower amounts of oxidant and catalyst. The catalyst could be recycled and reused six times without a significant change in DBT removal.