Updates on the materials for desulphurization of thiophene, benzothiophene and dibenzothiophene

Abstract The presence of sulphur in fuels is undesirable as their combustion products contain oxides of sulphur which has been linked to causes like asthma, heart disease and other respiratory illnesses. Asides, these oxides are the main cause of atmospheric contamination, acid rain and global warmi...

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Main Authors: Timothy Oladiran Ajiboye, Abolaji A. Mafolasire, Clement Aruada, Olutobi Daniel Ogunbiyi, Subhendu Dhibar, Lebea N. Nthunya
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-05-01
Series:Discover Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-025-06604-2
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author Timothy Oladiran Ajiboye
Abolaji A. Mafolasire
Clement Aruada
Olutobi Daniel Ogunbiyi
Subhendu Dhibar
Lebea N. Nthunya
author_facet Timothy Oladiran Ajiboye
Abolaji A. Mafolasire
Clement Aruada
Olutobi Daniel Ogunbiyi
Subhendu Dhibar
Lebea N. Nthunya
author_sort Timothy Oladiran Ajiboye
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The presence of sulphur in fuels is undesirable as their combustion products contain oxides of sulphur which has been linked to causes like asthma, heart disease and other respiratory illnesses. Asides, these oxides are the main cause of atmospheric contamination, acid rain and global warming. The predominant source of sulphur in fuels is due to the presence of thiophene, benzothiophene and dibenzothiophene. Different desulphurization methods, including hydrodesulphurization, biodesulphurization, adsorptive desulphurization, extractive desulphurization and oxidative desulphurization. Some of these technologies requires harsh conditions for the sulphur to be removed. Hence, there is a need for modification of the existing technologies. One of the modifications involve the use of innovative materials (such as pristine, doped materials, heterojunctions and composites) for sulphur removal. These materials were particularly used for the adsorptive and photocatalytic desulphurization. Photocatalytic desulphurization will only be effective in the presence of a good photocatalyst and light. In this work, the photocatalysts (oxides, sulphides, phosphides, phosphate, nitrides and composites) that have been employed for the removal of these sulphur compounds, their performance as well as existing photocatalytic desulphurization reactors are reported. Furthermore, the mechanism of photocatalytic desulphurization is explained. In addition, recent updates on the utilization of nanomaterials for adsorptive desulphurization were also addressed. Impacts of aromatic, olefinic and additive compounds on the desulphurization of fuel were examined. Finally, the future perspectives on how to improve on the adsorptive and photocatalytic desulphurization processes were suggested.
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spelling doaj-art-1c61d72a9c204791bf33cf7ef1de31c12025-08-20T03:09:19ZengSpringerDiscover Applied Sciences3004-92612025-05-017513010.1007/s42452-025-06604-2Updates on the materials for desulphurization of thiophene, benzothiophene and dibenzothiopheneTimothy Oladiran Ajiboye0Abolaji A. Mafolasire1Clement Aruada2Olutobi Daniel Ogunbiyi3Subhendu Dhibar4Lebea N. Nthunya5Department of Chemistry, University of the Free StateChemistry Department, University of IbadanDepartment of Chemistry, Tennessee Technological UniversityDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International UniversityColloid Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, The University of BurdwanInstitute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability, College of Engineering, Science and Technology, University of South AfricaAbstract The presence of sulphur in fuels is undesirable as their combustion products contain oxides of sulphur which has been linked to causes like asthma, heart disease and other respiratory illnesses. Asides, these oxides are the main cause of atmospheric contamination, acid rain and global warming. The predominant source of sulphur in fuels is due to the presence of thiophene, benzothiophene and dibenzothiophene. Different desulphurization methods, including hydrodesulphurization, biodesulphurization, adsorptive desulphurization, extractive desulphurization and oxidative desulphurization. Some of these technologies requires harsh conditions for the sulphur to be removed. Hence, there is a need for modification of the existing technologies. One of the modifications involve the use of innovative materials (such as pristine, doped materials, heterojunctions and composites) for sulphur removal. These materials were particularly used for the adsorptive and photocatalytic desulphurization. Photocatalytic desulphurization will only be effective in the presence of a good photocatalyst and light. In this work, the photocatalysts (oxides, sulphides, phosphides, phosphate, nitrides and composites) that have been employed for the removal of these sulphur compounds, their performance as well as existing photocatalytic desulphurization reactors are reported. Furthermore, the mechanism of photocatalytic desulphurization is explained. In addition, recent updates on the utilization of nanomaterials for adsorptive desulphurization were also addressed. Impacts of aromatic, olefinic and additive compounds on the desulphurization of fuel were examined. Finally, the future perspectives on how to improve on the adsorptive and photocatalytic desulphurization processes were suggested.https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-025-06604-2Sulphur removalFuelNanomaterialsPhotocatalystThiophenesDerivatives
spellingShingle Timothy Oladiran Ajiboye
Abolaji A. Mafolasire
Clement Aruada
Olutobi Daniel Ogunbiyi
Subhendu Dhibar
Lebea N. Nthunya
Updates on the materials for desulphurization of thiophene, benzothiophene and dibenzothiophene
Discover Applied Sciences
Sulphur removal
Fuel
Nanomaterials
Photocatalyst
Thiophenes
Derivatives
title Updates on the materials for desulphurization of thiophene, benzothiophene and dibenzothiophene
title_full Updates on the materials for desulphurization of thiophene, benzothiophene and dibenzothiophene
title_fullStr Updates on the materials for desulphurization of thiophene, benzothiophene and dibenzothiophene
title_full_unstemmed Updates on the materials for desulphurization of thiophene, benzothiophene and dibenzothiophene
title_short Updates on the materials for desulphurization of thiophene, benzothiophene and dibenzothiophene
title_sort updates on the materials for desulphurization of thiophene benzothiophene and dibenzothiophene
topic Sulphur removal
Fuel
Nanomaterials
Photocatalyst
Thiophenes
Derivatives
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-025-06604-2
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