New Catalyst Removes 99% of Sulfur from Diesel at Low Temperatures

Researchers from the A.A. Baikov Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Science of the Russian Academy of Sciences have developed a catalyst capable of removing over 99% of sulfur from diesel fuel under mild conditions. The method allows fuel to be purified to meet strict environmental standards without requiring high pressure or extreme heat. Standard hydrotreating technology typically requires temperatures between 300\u2013400\u00B0C and high pressure, yet it often fails to eliminate certain stubborn aromatic sulfur compounds. The new approach utilizes the oxidation of impurities at 70\u00B0C and atmospheric pressure. Composition and Chemical Mechanism The catalyst is based on hydroxyapatite—a material composed of calcium and phosphate components. Researchers modified its surface with molybdate ions to create active phosphomolybdate clusters. To initiate the purification process, hydrogen peroxide is added to the system.