Authors

• Angélica M. Giorgi Perez
• Marisol Fernández Rojas
• Luz A. Carreño Díaz

Abstract

Industrial combustion of fuels containing sulfur is responsible for most of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The high impact of fuels is mainly on the content of aromatic S-compounds. These compounds are hard to remove through conventional hydrodesulphurization (HDS) processes because of their refractory properties and high boiling points. In this research, we are reporting the preparation, characterization, and evaluation of a cheap, regenerable and reusable composite based on the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride immobilized on a renewable matrix of natural cellulose fibers. Characterization of the composite included FTIR, TGA, SEM, and XDR. The extraction capacity of thiophene and benzothiophene of the synthesized material was evaluated in synthetic mixes in isooctane and monitored by GC-FID. We achieved removal percentages of up to 62% of total sulfur from a model oil with an initial concentration of 458 mg S/L.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

• ionic liquids
• pineapple leaves fibers
• desulphurization
• aromatic S
• compounds