Sulfur reduction in gasoline and diesel fuels by extraction/adsorption of refractory dibenzothiophenes.

摘要

Using the classical coordination compound, Ru(NH(sub 3))(sub 5)(H(sub 2)O)(sup 2+), they have prepared a metal complex with a 4,6-dimenthyldibenzothiophene ligand. The compound Ru(NH(sub 3))(sub 5)(H(sub 2)O)(sup 2+) also reacts with thiophene, benzothiophene and dibenzothiophene (DBT) at room temperature. They have found that Ru(NH(sub 3))(sub 5)(H(sub 2)O)(sup 2+) removes over 50% of the DBT in simulated petroleum feedstocks by a biphasic extraction process. The extraction phase is readily generated by air-oxidation thereby completing a cyclic process that removes DBT from petroleum feedstocks.