Vacuum degassed treatment for fabricating quasi-MIL-125(Ti) with enhanced catalytic oxidative desulfurization activity

In this work, vacuum degas is employed to treat MIL-125(Ti) for catalyzing oxidative desulfurization (ODS). From MIL-125(Ti) by vacuum degassing at 300 °C, Quasi-MIL-125(Ti) possesses a transition-state between pristine MIL-125(Ti) and TiO2/Carbon, also has unique structural features, such as larger pores, and abundant oxygen vacancies. Its ODS activity is almost line with the oxygen vacancies concentrations and is approximately 3.5 and 3.8 times higher than that of pristine MIL-125(Ti) and TiO2/Carbon, respectively. And excellent stability of the catalyst was confirmed by recycling experiments. This work opens an easy route for developing mixed TiIV/TiIII valanced Ti-MOFs for ODS reaction. [Display omitted] •Quasi-Ti-MOF was successfully prepared by vacuum degassed at 300 °C.•This material possesses a transition-state between MIL-125(Ti) and TiO2/Carbon.•This catalyst exhibit excellent oxidative desulfurization activity.•Its catalytic activity is linear correlation with the number of oxygen vacancies.•The reaction intermediate of this material is Ti–O–O and not ▪.