A series of novel nanofiber materials with excellent performance in desulfurization under mild conditions based on BW11 and ZrO2

[Display omitted] •ZrO2 was applied to desulfurization, and the best crystalline phase (t-ZrO2) for ECODS was found.•Synthesis of ZrO2 nanofibers with easily hydrolyzed TNBZ.•DBT removal efficiency could achieve 95.45% at room temperature within 90 min.•At 40 °C, DBT removal yield can achieve 100% within 15 min.•The best O/S value is the stoichiometric ratio of H2O2/DBT, which means efficient utilization of H2O2. In this work, a series of mono lacunary Keggin type tungstoborate (K8[BW11O39H]·nH2O, BW11)-based ZrO2 nanofibers were successfully prepared with new precursor and applied to extraction catalytic oxidation desulfurization system (ECODS). Among the heterogeneous catalysts, the catalyst with tetragonal phase (t-phase) ZrO2 and 45 wt% contents of CTAB-BW11 has the best performance. It exhibited high activities for dibenzothiophene (DBT), 4, 6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (4, 6-DMDBT) and benzothiophene (BT) with H2O2 as an oxidant. 100% removal yield of DBT achieved in a short time (t = 15 min) using 45 wt% CTAB-BW11/ZrO2 catalyst under the optimal conditions (T = 40 °C, H2O2/DBT molar ratio (O/S value) = 2, catalyst dosage = 2 g per litre model oil). Especially, the DBT removal efficiency could achieve 95.45% at room temperature (25 °C). The catalysts could be reused at least 7 times and the possible catalytic mechanism is also revealed.