Selective removal of refractory sulfur compounds from gasoline and diesel using molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP)
New molecularly imprinted polymer film (MIP-film) will be prepared by in-situ photo-radical polymerization on a substrate and used as a selective adsorbent to remove refractory sulfur compounds such as dibenzothiophene (DBT) from gasoline and diesel. High content levels of sulfur in fuels affect their quality and increase the emissions of hazardous gases such as sulfur dioxide (SOx) gases which contribute significantly to atmospheric pollution and have adverse health effects. Optimization of the MIP films will include the selection of the best templates, functional monomers, crosslinkers, and solvents. Adsorption behavior of the films, including adsorption kinetics, capacity and selectivity, will be investigated. Characterization and analysis of sulfur compounds and the composition of the film will be carried out using UV-Vis spectrometer, FTIR, SEM, EDXRF, and GC-PFPD. Successful MIP-film will be evaluated based on the obtained results and the calculated percentage removal of sulfur from gasoline and diesel. Each undergraduate student will be assigned several tasks to perform and work with. The final drafts and research papers will be prepared by students and reviewed by the primary mentor of the project and other peer reviewers.
