Desulfurization of Model Oil using combined Cu/Ti02 Photocatalysis and BMImCu2Cl3 Ionic Liquid Extraction

• Main Author: Tengku Yahya Shah, Tengku Zuhaili
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS 2010
• Subjects: TP Chemical technology
• Online Access: http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/9435/1/2010%20-%20Desulfurization%20of%20Model%20Oil%20using%20Combined%20Cu%20TiO2%20Photocatalysis%20and%20BMICu2Cl3%20Ionic%20Liq.pdf; http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/9435/

This final year project is to develop a method for desulfurization from model oil. This sulfur contents is considered a threat to the people and environment. This is because, this sulfur species will be convertedto sulfur dioxide (S02) through the fuel combustion. As we have known, a lot of problems associated with SO2. Conventional process to remove sulfur from crude oil is hydrodesulfiirization (HDS). Although this is an efficient method to remove sulfur, but it's required a lot of cost as well as energy. It has come to a conclusion that photocatalysis and ionic liquid extraction can be an alternative solutions that is environmental friendly, non-hydrogen intensive, and can be employed at low temperature. Thus, the idea is to combine both methods for the desulfurization to achieve high efficiency result.In this project, Cu doped Ti02is used as the photocatalyst This is because, the limitations of a Ti02 as a photocatalyst for a particular use can be enhanced by modifying the surface of the semiconductor. Plus, BMIMCu2C13 is used as the ionic liquid. This project includes the preparation of the photocatalyst, preparation of ionic liquids, preparation of model oil, characterization of thephotocatalyst, and the reaction of desulfurization. The experimental results for desulfurization of model oil using CuTi02 photocatalyst with different percentage of copper loading and calcinations temperature, and BMImCu2Cl3 ionic liquid show some definite trends. The UV-Vis test also has showed that the photocatalyst active region from UV to visible light. 10 wt% of copper doping shows better performance than 5 wt% of copper doping, and low calcination temperature which is 200°C depicted better activity than 300°C. The sulfur removed for combination of 10CuT200 photocatalyst and BMImCu2Cl3 ionic liquid is much higher than using photocatalyst alone.