We have investigated the interaction of several organosulfur compounds with a TiO2(110) surface using temperature programmed reaction spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.  Molecules selected for this study include thiols, thiophenes, and their derivatives, many of which are found in natural petroleum sources and prove problematic in current desulfurization processes.  By comparing desorption activation energies, we have established trends in relative binding energies which correlate binding strength with Lewis basicity, suggesting that several of the compounds bind to the surface via the lone pair electrons on sulfur.  We have also explored the reactivity of these molecules with a highly reduced, ion-bombarded TiO2 surface.  Of the species explored, benzenethiol is found to decompose over the surface, giving rise to the desorption of benzene.  These findings provide an important first step towards designing substrates capable of removing sulfur from the larger refractory species found in petroleum.

Interaction of petroleum-based organosulfur compounds with a TiO<sub>2</sub>(110) surface

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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Interaction of petroleum-based organosulfur compounds with a TiO2(110) surface

Interaction of petroleum-based organosulfur compounds with a TiO₂(110) surface