Photocatalytic oxidation of dibenzothiophene using TiO₂/bamboo charcoal

Photocatalytic oxidation of dibenzothiophene (DBT) using TiO₂-loaded bamboo charcoals (BC) prepared by wet impregnation was studied. Results obtained here can be used as the reference for evaluating reactions in hydrocarbons, which aims at the development of an oxidative desulfurization process for fuel oils. Technological conditions (the amount of photocatalysts, hydrogen peroxide, and TiO₂ loading) were also investigated in detail. The results show that TiO₂/BC improves the dispersed degree of TiO₂ catalyst, which shows a better photocatalytic performance than pure TiO₂. We also found a special characterization of TiO₂/BC, it can locate just at the oil–water phase boundary. The oxidation proceeds in the oil phase and most of the oxidation products transfer to water phase, resulting in the successive removal of DBT from the n-octane phase without additional extraction by solvent. In addition, kinetics parameters of the photocatalytic oxidation of DBT were measured and calculated. The result shows the kinetics of photocatalytic oxidation of DBT is first order.