Indirect hydrodesulfurization of gasoline via sodium borohydride reduction with nickel catalysis under ambient conditions

RSC Advances, 2012,2, 3123-3132
Indirect hydrodesulfurization of gasoline via sodium borohydride reduction with nickel catalysis under ambient conditions
Yafei Shen ,  Tonghua Sun and Jinping Jia
School of Environmental Science and Engineering,Shanghai Jiaotong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
Abstract
Authors describe a novel indirect hydrodesulfurization (HDS) method for gasoline fuel at room temperature using an excellent reductant of sodium borohydride (NaBH4).  This produces active hydrogen with Ni–B catalysis. The active hydrogen can then convert S-compounds into hydrogen sulfide (H2S) or S2−, released from the gasoline.
Under optimal conditions the maximum desulfurization efficiencies of original and experimental gasoline can reach about 36.6% and 88%, respectively.  The HDS method relatively clean and moderately indirect.  The Ni–B catalyst produced in the filtrate can be reused for the further desulfurization work.
Full Text Source (Subscription or Fee): http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2012/ra/c2ra01313d/unauth