Synthesis of a new nanocomposite based on sandwich-type silicotungstate and polyvinyl alcohol with superior catalytic activity for deep desulfurization of real/thiophenic mode fuel

Abstract

For preparation of ultra-clean real gasoline fuel, a new cone-like amphiphilic nanocomposite (TBASi2W18Cd4@PVA) has been synthesized by supporting cadmium containing sandwich-type silicotungstate polyoxometalate ((n-C4H9)4N)7H5Si2W18Cd4O68 (TBASi2 W18Cd4) on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as an organic-inorganic hybrid nanocatalyst for catalytic oxidative desulfurization (CODS) of real fuel and thiophenic model fuels. The synthesized samples were characterized using elemental analysis, FT-IR, UV–vis, 113Cd NMR, 29Si NMR, XRD and SEM techniques. The catalytic activity of TBASi2W18Cd4@PVA nanocomposite was tested on thiophenic model fuels and real gasoline fuel in the presence of CH3COOH/H2O2 as an oxidant. After examining TBASi2W18Cd4@PVA nanocomposite in the CODS processes, optimum effective properties were investigated. The average efficiency of the nanocatalyst (TBASi2W18Cd4@PVA) was 98% by optimum values of the properties (catalyst dosage, temperature, oxidation system, different types of catalysts). It has great reusability with 96% of effectiveness after five runs. The CODS mechanism is proposed based on the obtained results, the kinetics were in agreement with the pseudo-first-order model. Based on the obtained results, it could be considered as an effective and industrial-scale nanocatalyst for the desulfurization of refractory sulfur compounds in extremely mild conditions.