Molecular imprinting for the selective adsorption of organosulphur compounds present in fuels

A novel approach to the potential desulphurisation of fuels such as diesel is proposed. It relies on the creation of recognition sites complementary t o sulphur-containing compounds in highly cross-linked polymeric matrices us ing the molecular imprinting technique. Dibenzothiophene sulphone (DBTS) wa s used as template for the preparation of molecularly imprinted polymers (M IPs). Four different polymers were synthesised using 5-octyloxy-1,3-bis(4-e thenylphenyl)-benzenedicarboxamide or methacrylic acid and divinylbenzenes or ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as functional monomers and cross-linkers, respectively. Three polymers showed better binding of DBTS than non-imprin ted controls, and were also superior in adsorption of organosulphur compoun ds such as dibenzothiophene (DBT) and benzothiophene (BT) present in a mode l mixture. A maximum adsorption of 66 mg DBT per gram of polymer was observ ed at a polymer load of 10 gl(-1) and an initial DBT concentration of 3.69 gl(-1). The polymers also showed selectivity for fluorene. (C) 2001 Elsevie r Science B.V. All rights reserved.