Deep diesel desulfurization in multi-cell trickle bed electrochemical reactor with intensified hydrogen peroxide production over MnO2 catalyst

Abstract

Hydrogen peroxide is considered a highly powerful oxidant and can oxidize thiophene contaminant compounds in diesel. In this work, a trickle bed electrochemical reactor (TBER) with multiple cells is investigated for diesel desulfurization, which is intensified with a highly effective electrocatalyst, MnO2, for in situ hydrogen peroxide production. The multiple cell TBER demonstrates much enhanced oxidation of dibenzothiophene (DBT) in diesel flowing with alkaline electrolyte through the TBER. A 500 ppm DBT was completely oxidized in situ in the multi-cell TBER in 2.5 h, indicative of highly efficient deep desulfurization of diesel fuel within the multi-cell TBER.