Catalytic Desulfurization of Heavy Oils and Diesel Fuels
This community develops chemical methods to remove sulfur from heavy crude oils, gas oils, and diesel fuels, primarily through catalytic oxidation and adsorption processes.
The work centers on designing catalysts and solvents to eliminate sulfur compounds, specifically targeting dibenzothiophene in heavy crude and diesel. Recurring materials include zeolites (particularly ZSM-5), ionic liquids, and deep eutectic solvents. The dominant method is oxidative desulfurization, often combined with adsorption, using catalysts supported on alumina or modified with metals like molybdenum and nickel. The goal is to achieve ultra-deep sulfur removal to meet fuel specifications, with significant focus on the catalytic cracking and hydrodesulfurization of heavy feedstocks.
The largest share of the community's output is found in sulfur research (1.9% of all sulfur research, and 5,096 papers here), followed by molybdenum (1.4% of molybdenum research, and 1,800 papers here) and aluminium (1.1% of aluminium research, and 1,557 papers here).
The community comprises 20,251 papers, publishing most frequently in Fuel, Journal of Catalysis, and Applied Catalysis A: General.
Recent work continues to focus on advanced catalysts for oxidative and adsorptive desulfurization, including metal-organic frameworks, photocatalysts for visible-light-driven sulfur removal, and eco-friendly solvent systems for processing heavy gas oils and real diesel fuels.