Efficient Co/SBA-15 catalyst for aerobic oxidative desulfurization at mild reaction temperature

Co/SBA-15 was synthesized and applied as catalyst for aerobic oxidative desulfurization (AODS). Co species was successfully introduced into the framework without destroy the mesoporous structure of SBA-15. The reaction conditions of Co/SBA-15 for AODS were optimized, and the desulfurization rate could reach 99.5% at the mild reaction temperature of 30 °C. It was proposed that dibenzothiophene was adsorbed on the Lewis acid sites of Co/SBA-15, and then oxidized to the polar sulfone by superoxide radicals generated from the oxygen molecule.