Synergetic Effect of Fe2O3 Doped-CeO2 Nanocomposites Prepared via Different Techniques on Photocatalytic Desulfurization of Heavy Gas Oil

Abstract

The photocatalytic performances of three Fe2O3–CeO2 nanocomposites were investigated toward the sulfur removal from a petroleum heavy gas oil (HGO) sample. The three composites were prepared by three different routes namely; auto-combustion, post-precipitation and precipitation. The physio-chemical features and optical properties of the presented composites were determined via proper analytical techniques. Formation of Fe2O3–CeO2 solid solution in all the prepared composites was verified via XRD analysis. These composites were then employed in photo-desulfurization of HGO and their activities were investigated at several operating conditions. The highest photocatalytic desulfurization exploit (91.5%) could be detected for the composite which was prepared via auto-combustion technique, denoted as (Fe20Ce80)ac. This maximum percentage of sulfur removal could be obtained under visible light irradiation at the following optimum operating conditions: 15 g/L (as photocatalyst dose), time of 6 h and 2:1 of H2O2 to oil ratio. The subsequent implementation of a solvent extraction step using N-methyl pyrrolidone was needed to attain the deepest desulfurization of HGO. The efficiencies of the presented composites against the process of sulfur removal were discussed in spot of their textural and optical characteristics as well as the available oxygen vacancies through their lattices structures.