High surface area mesoporous tungsten oxide for fast, green oxidation of organosulfur compounds in crude oil

Abstract Mesoporous, multi-valent tungsten oxide with high surface area (209 m2/g) is synthesized via a novel metal dissolution coupled with reverse micelle formation approach. Mesoporous tungsten oxide with highest surface area reported is obtained by this method. The material is used as an excellent heterogeneous catalyst for the oxidation of organosulfur compounds present in crude oil. The complete oxidation of dibenzothiophene was observed with excellent yield (>99%) within 15 min at room temperature (20 °C). The catalyst is reusable up to 5 reaction cycles without losing significant activity. A green oxidant, H2O2 is used and the reaction mechanism involves the activation of peroxo species by W6+. The oxidation activity decreases in the order of DBT > 4,6-DMDBT > 1-BT due to the changes in the electronic environment of sulfur and steric effects.