Preparation of WO3/g-C3N4 composites and their application in oxidative desulfurization

Preparation of WO3/g-C3N4 composites and their application in oxidative desulfurization

Type	Journal Article
Author	Rongxiang Zhao
Author	Xiuping Li
URL	http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169433216317639
Volume	392
Pages	810-816
Publication	Applied Surface Science
Date	January 15, 2017
Abstract	Researchers synthesized WO3/graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) composites by direct calcining of a mixture of WO3 and g-C3N4 at 400 °C for 2 h. They prepared WO3 by calcination of phosphotungstic acid at 550 °C for 4 h, and the g-C3N4 was obtained by calcination of melamine at 520 °C for 4 h. According to characterization results, the WO3/g-C3N4 composites exhibited stronger XRD peaks of WO3 and g-C3N4 than the WO3 and pure g-C3N4. In addition, two WO3 peaks at 25.7° and 26.6° emerged for the 36% −WO3/g-C3N4 composite. This finding indicated that WO3 was highly dispersed on the surface of the g-C3N4 nanosheets and interacted with the nanosheets, which resulted in the appearance of (012) and (022) planes of WO3. Desulfurization experiments demonstrated that the desulfurization rate of dibenzothiophene (DBT) in model oil reached 91.2% under optimal conditions. Moreover, the activity of the catalyst was not significantly decreased after five recycles.