Gasoline desulfurization by catalytic alkylation over methanesulfonic acid

Abstract

Methanesulfonic acid (MSA) was used as catalyst to remove trace organic sulfur (thiophene) from Fluid Catalytic Cracking gasoline (FCC) via alkylation with olefins. The reactions were conducted in Erlenmeyer flask equipped with a water-bath under atmospheric pressure. The influence of the temperature, the reaction time, and the mass ration of MSA were investigated. After a 60 min reaction time at 343 K, the thiophene conversion of 98.7% was obtained with a mass ration of MSA to oil of 10%. The catalyst was reused without a reactivation treatment, and the thiophene conversion reached 92.9% at the third time. The method represents an environmentally benign route to desulfur, because MSA could easily be separated from the reaction mixture via decantation and it could be reused.