Photocatalytic oxidative desulfurization of model fuel using iron-molybdenum nanocatalyst based on cerium oxide (FeyMox/CeO2) under visible light

Abstract

Iron and molybdenum-activated CeO2 nanoparticles were utilized in a photocatalytic oxidation reaction in order to eliminate sulfur compounds from a model fuel. The catalyst was synthesized through a two-step process and then calcined for 3 h at 600 °C. The physicochemical properties of the synthesized nanophotocatalyst were characterized using a range of techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–vis DRS), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), nitrogen adsorption–desorption, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The sample of Fe1Mo2/CeO2 exhibited superior performance in the photocatalytic oxidative desulfurization (PODS) reaction. The PODS reaction parameters, such as the initial sulfur concentration, photocatalyst dosage, temperature, solvent-to-fuel volume ratio (S/F), and oxidant-to-sulfur molar ratio (O/S), underwent optimization. Under ideal circumstances (T = 50 ℃, photocatalyst dosage = 2 g/L, O/S = 6, and S/F = 1), a 100% conversion rate of DBT was achieved. The kinetic studies showed that the PODS reaction follows the pseudo-first order kinetic model, and the activation energy measured was 39.44 kJ/mol−1.