Title: Ionic liquids: energy efficient novel solvent for the extractive desulphurisation of liquid fuels

Authors: Swapnil A. Dharaskar; Kailas L. Wasewar; Mahesh N. Varma; Diwakar Z. Shende

Addresses: Department of Chemical Engineering, Anuradha Engineering College, Chikhli, Buldhana (MS) 443201, India ' Advance Separation and Analytical Laboratory (ASAL), Department of Chemical Engineering, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur (M.S) 440010, India ' Advance Separation and Analytical Laboratory (ASAL), Department of Chemical Engineering, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur (M.S) 440010, India ' Advance Separation and Analytical Laboratory (ASAL), Department of Chemical Engineering, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur (M.S) 440010, India

Abstract: A novel group of energy efficient solvent, recognised as ionic liquids, has recently been the subject of challenging research on the extractive desulphurisation of liquid fuels. The aim of this study is to explore the possible application of ionic liquids as green energy efficient solvent because of their unique physical and chemical properties. In this work, imidazolium-based 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexfluorophosphate [BMIM]PF₆ and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [BMIM]BF₄ were synthesised and employed as extractive agent for removal of sulphur compounds. The ¹H-NMR, and ¹³C-NMR have been discussed for the molecular confirmation of synthesised ionic liquid. Further, conductivity, and solubility analysis of ionic liquids were carried out. The effects of reaction time, reaction temperature, partition coefficient, sulphur compounds, ultrasonication and recycling of ionic liquids without regeneration on dibenzothiophene removal of liquid fuel were presented. Also, the desulphurisation and multistage extraction of real fuels were investigated. The data and results of presented work might be provide significant insights of ionic liquids as green solvent for extractive desulphurisation of liquid fuels.

Keywords: ionic liquids; extractive desulphurisation; liquid fuels; extraction; energy efficiency; green energy; energy efficient solvents; sulphur removal; reaction time; reaction temperature; partition coefficient; sulphur compounds; ultrasonication; recycling; regeneration; dibenzothiophene removal; green solvents.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETP.2016.075659

International Journal of Energy Technology and Policy, 2016 Vol.12 No.2, pp.105 - 121

Received: 17 Feb 2014
Accepted: 25 Dec 2014
Published online: 31 Mar 2016 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article