Dye-sensitized TiO2@SBA-15 composites: Preparation and their application in photocatalytic desulfurization

Photocatalytic oxidation desulfurization has become a research hotspot in recent years because of mild reaction conditions, less energy consumption and high selectivity. In this paper, TiO 2 was loaded onto SBA-15 molecular sieves and sensitized with organic dyes (2, 9-dichloroquinacridone, DCQ) to extend its spectral response range from ultraviolet light to visible light. The catalyst DCQ-X%TiO 2 @SBA-15 was characterized by BET measurements, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflection spectra, and then it was applied for photocatalytic oxidation desulfurization of gasoline. The effects of different catalytic systems, TiO 2 concentration, catalyst dosage, and different model sulfur compounds on catalytic desulfurization performance were investigated. Experimental results show that DCQ-TiO 2 @SBA-15 has a better performance than the unsensitized TiO 2 @SBA-15, and the desulfurization rate can reach up to 96.1% in a reaction time of 90 min.