Optimization of a continuous ultrasound assisted oxidative desulfurization (UAOD) process of diesel using response surface methodology (RSM) considering operating cost

Abstract

A continuous-flow ultrasound-assisted oxidative desulfurization (UAOD) of partially hydro-treated diesel has been investigated using hydrogen peroxide-formic acid as simple and easy to apply oxidation system. The effects of different operating parameters of oxidation stage including residence time (2–24 min), formic acid to sulfur molar ratio (10–150), and oxidant to sulfur molar ratio (5–35) on the sulfur removal have been studied using response surface methodology (RSM) based on Box–Behnken design. Considering the operating costs of the continuous-flow oxidation stage including chemical and electrical energy consumption, the appropriate values of operating parameters were selected as follows: residence time of 16 min, the formic acid to sulfur molar ratio of 54.47, and the oxidant to sulfur molar ratio of 8.24. In these conditions, the sulfur removal and the volume ratio of the hydrocarbon phase to the aqueous phase were 86.90% and 4.34, respectively. By drastic reduction in the chemical consumption in the oxidation stage, the volume ratio of the hydrocarbon phase to the aqueous phase was increased up to 10. Therefore, the formic acid to sulfur molar ratio and the oxidant to sulfur molar ratio were obtained 23.64 and 3.58, respectively, which lead to sulfur removal of 84.38% with considerable improvements on the operating cost of oxidation stage in comparison with the previous works.