UV-irradiation effect on desulfurization of hydrocarbon fuels through an advanced oxidation-extraction process in presence of acid catalyst

摘要

An experimental investigation is performed for the desulfurization of model and real fuel oil samples through one-pot extraction combined with oxidation method with an acid catalyst under UV-irradiation. The kinetics of desulfurization process is obtained by fitting the data taken from a pilot-scale reactor. The effects of various operating parameters on the desulfurization efficiency and the optimal process condition were statistically analyzed using Taguchi experimental approach. The most important parameters affecting the desulfurization efficiency are temperature and the amount of acid catalyst. The obtained optimum conditions are applied to the three real fuel samples. The results of applying UV assisted and ultrasound assisted desulfurization are compared. Both methods have high desulfurization efficiencies about 90% for kerosene fuel. The desulfurization efficiency of about 75% for high sulfur diesel is obtained after a two-stage UV assisted desulfurization process. The results show that in the same conditions UV assisted process consumed ten times less energy than ultrasound assisted desulfurization.