Iron complex on aminoalcohol modified support PAF-30 as a catalyst for oxidation of sulfur-containing compounds by air

Catalytic aerobic desulfurization is a promising alternative to hydrodesulfurization or additional technology for deep desulfurization of petroleum distillates containing refractory condensed thiophene derivatives. In this study, a catalyst based on a complex of iron on PAF-30 support modified by ethanolamines was developed. The PAF-MEA-Fe catalyst was characterized using various methods: XRD, FTIR, ¹³C NMR, low-temperature adsorption-desorption nitrogen, TEM, TGA, UV–vis, XPS and elemental analysis. Compared to a sample prepared by ordinary impregnation of iron salt on a porous support, the chelate complex of iron demonstrated excellent catalytic activity in the oxidation reaction of dibenzothiophene (DBT) by air. The removal rates were achieved at the level of 100, 80 and 75 % for DBT and its mono- and dimethyl-substituted derivatives. The synergistic effect of the PAF-30 mesoporous support, an available complexing ligand and catalytically active iron ions allows you to develop an effective catalyst for aerobic oxidative desulfurization of a sulfur-containing model fuel. High stability of the catalyst during 5 oxidation-regeneration cycles was demonstrated.