Catalytic/photocatalytic oxidative desulfurization activities of heteropolyacid immobilized on magnetic polythiophene nanocatalyst

Abstract

Herein, Keggin-type heteropolyacid (SiMo₁₂) supported on magnetic polythiophene nanocomposite has been successfully synthesized. The obtained Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@PT\SiMo₁₂ magnetic nanocomposite has been characterized by XRD, FESEM and the relating XEDS energy mapping, UV–vis DRS, ICP-MS, and VSM. The catalytic and photocatalytic oxidative desulfurization (ODS) activities of the synthesized nanocatalysts were studied with T, BT, and DBT as the model sulfur compounds. Results showed that the Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@PT\SiMo₁₂ nanocatalyst exhibited significantly higher catalytic and photocatalytic ODS activities than pure SiMo₁₂, PT, and Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@PT at the same experimental conditions. In general, Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@PT\SiMo₁₂ showed higher photocatalytic ODS (under visible light) activity (97.2%, 99% and 99.7%) than catalytic ODS (87%, 89.6% and 96.2%) for T, BT, and DBT respectively after 45 min. Also, the Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@PT\SiMo₁₂ nanocatalyst possessed excellent stability after five reaction cycles.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Magnetic nanocatalyst
• polythiophene
• heteropolyacids
• photocatalytic
• oxidative desulfurization

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to AL-Nahrain Nanorenewable Energy Research Center (NNERC), Al-Nahrain University for their support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).