Ti3c2tx Mxene for Removal of S-Compounds From Model Fuel Oil Via the Fenton-Like Reaction

Abstract

The desire to mitigate the release of harmful SOx x emissions resulting from fuel combustion is driving the advancement of desulfurization technology. This technology aims to enable the widespread production of ultraclean fuel on a large scale. The utilization of H2O2 2 O 2 as an oxidant in oxidative desulfurization has become a feasible method for desulfurizing petroleum distillates without releasing carbon. However, some difficulties need to be addressed, such as excessive consumption of oxidants at high temperatures, low efficiency caused by immiscibility between water and oil, and high interfacial tension. This study demonstrates the application of an Ti3C2Tx 3 C 2 T x MXene catalyst for the oxidative removal of S-compounds at 298 K with low H2O2 2 O 2 via a Fenton-like reaction, which has not been reported before. This was achieved using a biphasic system that facilitated the access of H2O2 2 O 2 molecules to Ti sites with oxygen vacancies on MXene, resulting in the formation of dynamically active species. Remarkably, the utilization of both a polar solvent and an optimal quantity of H2O2 2 O 2 resulted in the enhanced diffusion and attraction of H2O2 2 O 2 to the active sites, thereby creating a favorable hydrophilic environment. Consequently, this forms a localized reaction setting that encompasses electron-rich Ti active sites, along with H2O2 2 O 2 and S-compounds, facilitating an effective ODS reaction. By maintaining a low content ratio of H2O2/S 2 O 2 /S = 4, it was possible to eliminate 1000 ppm of dibenzothiophene (DBT) from the model oil within just 30 min at ambient temperature.