Molybdenum-based metal–organic frameworks as highly efficient and stable catalysts for fast oxidative desulfurization of fuel oil

Mo-based MOFs with various organic linkers showed fast desulfurization performance and high stability. [Mo(O2)] was deduced as the main active oxygen species for the conversion of DBT to DBTO2. The sulfur removal could reach 99.4% within 12 min over the obtained Mo-MOF-PI due to the high dispersion of Mo atoms. [Display omitted] •Mo-MOFs were constructed through assembling various organic linkers and MoO3.•Mo-MOF-PI could achieve 99.4% sulfur removal with only 12 min.•ODS can be enhanced by the stronger interaction caused by the longer carbon chain.•Mo-MOF-PI showed high TOF value (19.2 h−1) and reused at least 20 times.•[Mo(O2)] was deduced as the main active oxygen species for conversion DBT to DBTO2. Heterogeneous catalysts are usually constructed by immobilizing active species on appropriate supports. However, the dispersibility is difficult to precisely control. In this work, three representative Mo-based MOFs (Mo-MOFs) were constructed by assembling various organic linkers and MoO3, where the Mo atoms are homogeneously dispersed due to the coordination. The results illustrated that the obtained Mo-MOF-PI synthesized with 2-propyl imidazole as the ligands exhibited an extremely fast reaction rate, achieving 99.4% sulfur removal of DBT within only 12 min. Compared to other similar catalysts, Mo-MOF-PI showed much higher catalytic activity with a turnover frequency value of 19.2 h−1. Moreover, it can be reused at least 20 times without a dramatic reduction in catalytic performance. Thus, the as-prepared Mo-MOF catalysts show great potential in large-scale industrial applications.