Amphiphilic niobium oxyhydroxide as a hybrid catalyst for sulfurremoval from fuel in a biphasic system.

Abstract

Here, we show that a new niobium oxyhydroxide, NbO2OH, can be synthesized and modified with asurfactant to be used as a heterogeneous catalyst for oxidative desulphurization. The material was treatedwith hydrogen peroxide to generate oxidizing groups (peroxo species) on the surface. Furthermore, thismaterial was converted to a family of solid catalysts that can stabilize water/oil emulsions and catalyzereactions at the liquid/liquid interface by anchoring a surfactant to the catalyst. The material was thenable to efficiently remove a sulfurous compound under mild conditions.