Electrochemical monitoring of a photocatalytic desulfurization process of a model liquid fuel

Thiophene is a sulfur compound found mostly in gasoline and contributor to air pollution. This paper analyzes UV light photocatalytic desulfurization of model oil using Ag/TiO2. Thiophene concentration in the oil phase was determined by the electrochemical analyzer using Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV). The electrochemical experimental works were performed by two methodologies. First, aliquots of the oleic mixture were taken every 30 minutes and the thiophene concentration was measured over 7 hours of degradation. The concentration of thiophene decreased by 37.94%. In the second methodology, the in situ thiophene concentration was determined by DPV, where the reaction mixture was altered by the addition of acetonitrile and a quaternary ammonium salt as solvent-supporting electrolyte system. In this medium, the thiophene concentration was reduced by 43.88% after 4 hours of photocatalytic degradation.