Oxidation of Dibenzothiophene to Dibenzothiophene Sulfone Using TiO2

The oxidation of dibenzothiophene (DBT) to dibenzothiophene-sulfone has been considered as an alternate method to remove sulfur from crude oil. This study demonstrates that the oxidative desulfurization (ODS) of DBT to DBT-sulfone occurs using rutile TiO2 as a catalyst with the aid of O2 . In addition, anatase and brookite were synthesized and tested in the reaction. Particle size of the catalysts was calculated and morphology was explored using SEM. A kinetic study was performed to determine the catalytic effect and activation energy of TiO2. The oxidation reaction was carried out by refluxing TiO2 and DBT in decahydronapthalene while flowing O2 through the mixture. Oxygen ratios and catalyst ratios were investigated. The disappearance of DBT was followed with gas chromatography and the product was confirmed with RAMAN and XRD. The reaction demonstrated first order kinetics with the Arrhenius activation energy to be 47.4KJ/mol.