Desulfurization of Real and Model Liquid Fuels Using Light: Photocatalysis and Photochemistry

Ultra-deep desulfurization of liquid fuels is crucial for the environment, longer lifetime of combustion engines, and emerging “green,” sustainable, carbon-neutral fuels for fuel cell applications. Current interest is towards photocatalysis and photochemistry for production of clean fuels and valuable chemicals. This critical Review provides systematization and analysis of studies on photocatalytic, photosensitized, and photochemical desulfurization of liquid fuels in the recent approximately 20 years. Zeolites, single-site photocatalysts, TiO2, and photosensitizers are discussed with their characterization and photocatalytic, photosensitized, and photochemical reaction networks. Pilot-scale photoreactors, kinetics of fuel desulfurization using sunlight, and uses of by-products of photodesulfurization of liquid fuels are covered (181 references).