Aerobic Oxidation Desulfurization of Dibenzothiophene Derivatives in Diesel Oil: Role of Electron-Rich Sites in Bimetallic Catalysts

The difficulty in removing dibenzothiophene derivatives from diesel, especially 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT), remains a huge obstacle to achieving efficient and clean desulfurization of oil products. However, the construction of a catalyst with efficient activation and utilization of O2 for the oxidation of sulfur-containing substrates remains a major challenge for the industrial application of aerobic oxidative desulfurization (AODS). In this article, we manipulate the electronic structure and surface acid–base environment of the MoOx catalyst by introducing Ta atoms with low electronegativity and constructing bimetallic catalysts to promote the generation of more electron-rich active sites. The optimal MoTa-2 catalyst realizes a 100% sulfur removal rate within 5 h for 4,6-DMDBT and displays amazing cycling stability across 26 cycles, surpassing the performance of known heterogeneous catalysts. This study extends a novel understanding of drawing support from electronic structure control strategies to enhance AODS ability.