Iron Oxide Catalyst for Oxidative Desulfurization of Model Diesel Fuel

— The catalytic oxidative desulfurization (Cat-ODS) process has been introduced as a new technology to achieve ultra-low sulphur levels in diesel fuels. In this study, the performance of the alumina supported iron oxide based catalysts doped with cobalt, synthesized via wet impregnation method on the Cat-ODS of the model diesel with the total sulphur 500ppm was investigated using tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as an oxidizing agent and N,N-dimethylformamide as an extraction solvent. A series of dopant was being screened. Co/Fe-Al2O3 (10:90) and Co/Fe-Al2O3 (20:80) prepared at 400°C. Overall, the catalytic activity decreased as dopant ratio increased. Catalyst with 10 wt% of Co was successfully removed 96% of thiophene, 100% of DBT and 92% of 4,6-DMDBT in model diesel. Further investigation, potential catalyst that calcined at 400°C contributed higher sulphur removal compared to the catalyst calcined at 500°C. X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) result showed that Co/Fe-Al2O3 (10:90) prepared at 400°C was amorphous, while micrograph of the field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) illustrated an inhomogeneous distribution of various particle sizes. The energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) result have confirmed the presence of Fe and Co in all of the prepared catalyst.