DSpace at VNU: Fabrication of photocatalytic composite of multi-walled carbon nanotubes TiO 2 and its application for desulfurization of diese

Materials Research Bulletin 47 (2012) 308–314 Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect Materials Research Bulletin journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/matresbu Fabrication of photocatalytic composite of multi-walled carbon nanotubes/TiO2 and its application for desulfurization of diesel Thu Ha Thi Vu a,*, Thu Trang Thi Nguyen a, Phuong Hoa Thi Nguyen a, Manh Hung Do a, Hang Thi Au a, Thanh Binh Nguyen b, Dinh Lam Nguyen c, Jun Seo Park d a Vietnam Institute of Industrial Chemistry, Hanoi, Viet Nam Faculty of Chemistry, Hanoi University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Viet Nam Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Danang University of Technology, University of Danang, Viet Nam d Division of Chemical Engineering, Hankyong National University, Ansung 456-749, Republic of Korea b c A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T Article history: Received 25 May 2011 Received in revised form 24 September 2011 Accepted November 2011 Available online 19 November 2011 Composite of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and titanium (IV) oxide (TiO2) were prepared by a heterogeneous gelation method The activities of the MWNTs/TiO2 composites were evaluated by photocatalytic oxidative desulfurization using dibenzothiophene (DBT), 4,6-dimethyl dibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT), n-tetradecane, and commercial diesel under irradiation using a high-pressure Hg lamp The microstructures of MWNTs/TiO2 composites were characterized by N2 adsorption, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscope, and X-ray diffraction It was found that more than 98% of sulfur compounds in commercial diesel were oxidized and removed by the use of the MWNTs/TiO2 composite as a photocatalyst ß 2011 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved Keywords: Desulfurization Composite Multi-walled carbon nanotubes TiO2 Introduction In the fuel combustion process, sulfur compounds in the fuel are transformed into SOx causing air pollution and acidic rain To reduce the negative effects on human health and the environment, the reduction of the sulfur content in fuel has been investigated Desulfurization by hydrogen (HDS) in the presence of a catalyst has been commonly employed to reduce the sulfur content in fuel [1] However, it is difficult to use this method for deep desulfurization (