Synthesis and characterization of a nanoporous carbon CMK-3 modified with iron for the ODS of DBT.

Abstract

A nanostructured Carbon CMK-3 modified with Fe by using different sources of Fe, were used in the oxidative desulfurization (ODS) of dibenzothiophene as a model sulfur compound. Ordered mesoporous carbon CMK-3 was synthesized via a two-step impregnation of the SBA-15 silica mesonanopores with a solution of sucrose using an incipient wetness method. The sucrose–silica composite was heated at 1173 K for 4 h under nitrogen flow. The silica template was dissolved in 5 wt.% hydrofluoric acid in order to remove the silica. The template-free carbon product thus obtained was filtered, washed with deionized water and ethanol and dried. Fe-CMK-3 was prepared by wetness impregnation using FeCl3.6H2O and FeNO3.9H2O as different sources of Fe. A solution of FeCl3.6H2O/ FeNO3.9H2O in ethanol was mixed with the carbon solution at room temperature. The solution was placed in a rotary evaporator to remove excess of ethanol at about 333 K and 60 rpm. Afterwards, the sample was dried at 373 K for 18 h and was thermally treated in a dynamic inert (N2) atmosphere. The percentage of Fe has been 2 wt.% with respect to carbon in the final FeCl3-CMK-3 and FeNO3-CMK 3 material. Porous carbon CMK-3 and the samples modified with Fe were characterized by XRD, FTIR, XPS, BET, TEM and SEM. These studies indicated that it was possible to obtain a CMK-3 replica successfully from SBA-15, using sucrose as a carbon precursor. Wide angle XRD pattern of the sample modified with FeCl3.6H2O implies the formation of the magnetite phase in the silica channels. The surface areas were 1320 m2/g for the CMK-3 and 1240 m2/g and 609 m2/g for FeCl3- CMK-3 and FeNO3-CMK-3, respectively. While the nanomaterial area is significantly smaller with the incorporation of the metal, CMK-3`s characteristic structure is maintained after the metal is within the host, in agreement with the XRD studies. The catalytic activity was improved when the nanoporous carbon was modified with Fe. The sample modified with FeCl3.6H2O was the most active catalyst for ODS of DBT, using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as oxidant and acetonitrile as solvent. 100% of DBT elimination was attained at a short time in mild conditions.