Extractive desulfurization of crude petroleum oil and liquid fuels using trihexyl tetradecyl phosphonium bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate ionic liquid

Abstract

Abstract Increasing environmental concerns have led to the development of alternative methods for the desulfurization of petroleum crude oil and liquid fuels. Phosphonium-based ionic liquids (PILs) have recently demonstrated promising potential for effective extractive desulfurization (EDS). The present study focuses on the synthesis and application of trihexyl tetradecyl phosphonium bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate [THTDP][D2EHP] for EDS of synthetic model fuels and real crude oils. The molecular confirmation and thermal stability of [THTDP][D2EHP] were investigated using FTIR and TGA analyses. In addition, the conductivity, solubility, and viscosity of the synthesized ionic liquid (IL) were analyzed. The impact of reaction time, temperature, and sulfur compounds, such as thiophene, benzothiophene, and dibenzothiophene (DBT), on the desulfurization efficiency from synthetic fuels was also investigated. The results indicated up to 63 and 57 % sulfur removal from DBT-based model fuels and Iranian crude oil, respectively. The optimum extraction conditions were found as 1:1 IL/fuel mass ratio, 35 °C, and 30 min. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the synthesis and utilization of PILs as promising solvents for extractive desulfurization of crude oil and liquid fuels.