Selective removal of benzothiophene and dibenzothiophene from gasoline using double-template molecularly imprinted polymers on the surface of carbon microspheres

Novel double-template surface molecularly imprinted carbon microspheres were synthesized by using benzothiophene and dibenzothiophene as template molecules, which offer high binding capacity and selectivity for removal of sulfur-containing compounds from model fuel oil. [Display omitted] •Novel double-template molecularly imprinted materials D-MIP/CMSs were prepared.•The D-MIP/CMSs have good selectivity for benzothiophene and dibenzothiophene.•The D-MIP/CMSs can be used for quickly removing benzothiophenes in fuel oil.•Computer simulation was used for confirming the experimental results. A novel double-template molecularly imprinted polymer (D-MIP) on the surface of carbon microspheres (CMSs), using benzothiophene (BT) and dibenzothiophene (DBT) as the template molecules, was prepared for the removal of benzothiophene sulfides from fuel gasoline. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and Fourier Transformation Infrared Spectrometry were used to characterize the morphology and structure of the D-MIP/CMSs. The adsorption behaviors of the D-MIP/CMSs including adsorption kinetics, isotherms, selectivity and regeneration were detected in detail by gas chromatography. The D-MIP/CMSs exhibited excellent selectivity toward BT and DBT with higher binding capacity in simulated gasoline compared to non-imprinted polymer (D-NIP/CMSs). The adsorption equilibrium of D-MIP/CMSs was achieved within 90min and the adsorption capacity reached 57.16 (BT) and 67.19mgg−1 (DBT), respectively. The pseudo-second order model and Langmuir–Freundlich isotherm described the adsorption of benzothiophene sulfides on the D-MIP/CMSs well. The D-MIP/CMSs could be used 10 times without significant loss in adsorption capacity. In addition, the D-MIP/CMSs exhibited good desulfurization effect in real oil. The D-MIP/CMSs provides a new material for deep desulfurization of fuel oils.