Catalytic Oxidative Desulfurization of a Model Diesel … and other theses

“Sometimes a scream is better than a thesis.” -- Ralph Waldo Emerson (American Poet, Lecturer and Essayist, 1803-1882)

Theses are such rich sources of information it is difficult to know where to begin. A good thesis provides, not just a problem, and not simply a solution to the problem, but a detailed description of the background of the problem and the reason for the proposed solution.

It presents results of an extensive literature search on the topic.
It provides the names of experts in the field … one of whom may well be the author of the thesis.

A good place to begin the search for theses is the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD)(http://www.ndltd.org/), an” international organization dedicated to promoting the adoption, creation, use, dissemination, and preservation of electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs).”

Searching the database for “desulfurization,” limited to the period 2010-2012, you will find, among others, the following item …

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Catalytic Oxidative Desulfurization of a Model Diesel
Liu, Dongxing (2010)
dliu11@lsu.edu
liudongxing@gmail.com
A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Chemical Engineering in The Gordon A. and Mary Cain Department of Chemical Engineering

Abstract
An analysis of heterogeneous oxidation catalysts was performed to determine the activities and optimal operating conditions for the multiphase oxidative desulfurization (ODS) reactions, using a model diesel. Catalysts studied included well-characterized Pd on Al2O3 and activated carbon supports, and carbon-supported Mo2C and W2C, which were prepared by temperature programmed reaction. Several other typical oxidation catalysts were also examined. The model diesel consisted of ~1 wt% sulfur compounds (thiophene and dibenzothiophene) with appropriate amounts of aliphatic, alkylaromatic and N-heterocyclic compounds to simulate a raw number 2 diesel. With oxygen as the oxidant in ODS reactions of this model diesel (70-90ºC, 0.8-1.8 MPa, feed vol/wt cat. = 100 mL/g), Pd/C and Mo2C/C showed the best selectivity for oxidizing the N- and S-heterocycles vs. the alkylaromatics. Increasing the pressure increased the reaction rates of the N- and S-heterocycles. Except for thiophene, there was only a small dependence of observed rates on temperature, which suggests the reactions were partially diffusion (of O2) controlled. The optimal ODS catalysts (carbides and 5%Pd/MPT-5) also showed high activity for the conversion of N-heterocycles. Current work includes further investigations of the better catalysts, full characterization of the products by GC-MS, and kinetics measurements using catalyst monoliths in a pistonoscillating reactor, which can eliminate the diffusion limitations and provide a uniform hydrodynamic environment.
Source: http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-06032010-071804/
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Bookmark the NDLTD site for future reference. While you’re at it, book mark the Desulfurization Blog (http://www.desulf.blogspot.com/) and tell your colleagues to do the same. They’ll appreciate your thoughtfulness.