Direct Hydrothermal Synthesis of Titanate Nanotubes with High Selectivity for Oxidative Desulfurization

Direct hydrothermal synthesized H-Titanate nanotube catalysts (H-TiNTs) were prepared and evaluated in model diesel for dibenzothiophene (DBT) oxidation. The effects of adding model components of 1-octylene, xylene, or cyclohexane in real diesel for sulfur removal were also evaluated. H-TiNTs were synthesized via the acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of tetra butyl titanate (TBOT) under static hydrothermal conditions with a seeding crystal. H-TiNTs and the control catalyst were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscope, Raman spectrum (Roman), and N2 adsorption-desorption. The removal of DBT was maintained at nearly 100% under optimal conditions.