Energy-efficient ultra-deep desulfurization of kerosene based on selective photooxidation and adsorption

Selective photooxidation and adsorptive desulfurization of kerosene was investigated for fuel cell applications. Photooxidation was conducted using a 5 W low-pressure mercury lamp at 25 °C in the presence of O2. It was found for the first time that the rates of photooxidation of dominant sulfur compounds remaining in commercial kerosene after hydrogenation were at least 100 times higher than those of benzothiophenes (BTs) and dibenzothiophenes (DBTs), although their molecular forms were not clarified. The photooxidation of these highly reactive sulfur compounds was completed within 30 min and made them removable by adsorbents such as molecular sieves. On the other hand, non-reactive sulfur compounds such as DBTs were removed by adsorbents such as activated carbon. Using this proposed method, which combines selective photooxidation of highly reactive sulfur compounds and adsorptive desulfurization of reactive and non-reactive sulfur compounds, the total sulfur content in kerosene can be efficiently reduced to less than 0.1 μg g−1 (ppm) under mild conditions.