Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA
Date of Award
12-2013
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Chemistry
First Advisor
Dr. Jason G. Parsons
Second Advisor
Dr. John Villarreal
Third Advisor
Dr. Jose Gutierrez
Abstract
The oxidation of dibenzothiophene (DBT) to dibenzothiophene-sulfone has been considered as an alternate method to remove sulfur from crude oil. This study demonstrates that the oxidative desulfurization (ODS) of DBT to DBT-sulfone occurs using WO3 as a catalyst. WO3 was synthesized and characterized using X-ray diffraction to determine the phase of WO3. Each reaction was refluxed and run for four hours using WO3 as a catalyst, dibenzothiphene, and four different solvents: decahydronapthalene, n-dodecane, decalin, and dodecane. The reactions were performed at temperatures ranging from 120 oC to 150 oC. Aliquots were taken at 30 minutes for up to four hours to determine the reaction kinetics. A stoichiometry study was performed by using mole ratios DBT-WO3. These mole ratios were 1:1, 1:0.75, 1:0.50, 1:0.25, 1:0.10, and 1:0.05. The disappearance of DBT was followed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. In addition, the identity of the reaction product was confirmed with FT-IR and Raman Spectroscopy.
Granting Institution
University of Texas-Pan American
Comments
Copyright 2013 Alejandrina Rivera. All Rights Reserved.
https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/oxidation-dibenzothiophene-sulfone-using-tungsten/docview/1501926331/se-2