Ultrasound assisted oxidative denitrification of diesel by formic acid/hydrogen peroxide

ABSTRACT

The basic nitrogen compounds in diesel were removed by using formic acid/hydrogen peroxide as oxidant under ultrasound, and alcohol was used as extractant. The effect of all factors on removing basic nitrogen compounds was investigated systematically. On the basis of single-factor experiments, the orthogonal experiments were done to optimize denitrification process. The optimum denitrification process was that volume ratio of formic acid to hydrogen peroxide was 3.0:1, volume ratio of oxidation system to diesel was 0.16:1, ultrasonic power was 64 W, reaction temperature was 313 K, ultrasonic radiation time was 2 min, and volume of alcohol was 16 mL. The content of basic nitrogen compounds in diesel was reduced from 85.79 to 3.56 μg/g, and the denitrification rate reached 95.85% under the optimum denitrification process. The treated diesel met the quality requirements.

KEYWORDS:

• Basic nitrogen compounds
• diesel
• orthogonal experiments
• oxidation
• removal
• ultrasound assisted

Funding

This work was supported by key laboratories of fine chemicals and surfactants in Sichuan provincial universities (No.2014JXY03), and the university student innovation fund of Sichuan province (No. 201410622040).