Ultrasound-Assisted Oxidative Desulfurization of Diesel Fuel Using Quaternary Ammonium Fluoride and Portable Unit for Ultrasound-Assisted Oxidative Desulfurization
AssigneeUniversity of Southern California
InventorsTeh-Fu Yen, Meng-Wei Wan
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Abstract
The desulfurization of fossil fuels is effected by the combination of fossil fuels with an aqueous mixture of hydroperoxide and quaternary ammonium fluoride phase transfer catalyst, the mixture then subjected to ultrasound to oxidize sulfur compounds present in the fuels. The polar oxidized species are removed via extraction. Another aspect is a portable, continuous ultrasound assisted desulfurization device having a sonoreactor for subjecting mixtures of fossil fuels to sonication to effect removal of sulfur containing compounds.
Claims40
A method for removing sulfides from a liquid fossil fuel, said method comprising:
- (a) combining a liquid fossil fuel with an acidic aqueous solution comprising water, a hydroperoxide, and a phase transfer catalyst, to form a multiphase reaction medium, said acidic aqueous solution having a pH equal to that of a 0.25-30% by volume aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution;
- wherein the phase transfer catalyst is a quaternary ammonium fluoride compound,
- said quaternary ammonium fluoride compound having four substituents,
- wherein the substituents may be the same or different and are from the group consisting of an alkyl group having a chain length of from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an aryl group, or an aralkyl group,
- wherein at least one of the substituents is an alkyl group of 8 or more carbon atoms in length;
- (b) applying ultrasound to said multiphase reaction medium for a time sufficient to cause oxidation of sulfides in said fossil fuel to sulfones;
- and
- (c) extracting said sulfones to yield an organic phase that is substantially sulfone-free.
A portable continuous desulfurization device comprising:
- a mixing tank;
- a sonoreactor connected to said mixing tank;
- a radio transmitter connected to said sonoreactor;
- a function generator connected to said radio transmitter;
- and
- a product separating portion connected to the sonoreactor on an end opposite to the portion of the sonoreactor connected to said mixing tank.
A portable continuous desulfurization device comprising:
- a plurality of sonoreactors connected in series,
- wherein each said sonoreactor comprises a coupling cone having a tapered end;
- a cylindrical head portion attached to said coupling cone having a nodal mounting plate protruding radially outward from said head portion;
- a tail portion attached to the head portion on a side opposite to the coupling cone;
- and
- a plurality of piezoelectric transducers affixed to said tail portion.
A portable continuous desulfurization device comprising:
- a plurality of sonoreactors connected in parallel,
- wherein each said sonoreactor comprises a coupling cone having a tapered end;
- a cylindrical head portion attached to said coupling cone having a nodal mounting plate protruding radially outward from said head portion;
- a tail portion attached to the head portion on a side opposite to the coupling cone;
- and
- a plurality of piezoelectric transducers affixed to said tail portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.