Desulfurization of fuel by extraction using microfluidics
Desulfurization extraction; Two-phase Flow; Microfluidics.
The conventional process for the elimination of sulfur compounds in petroleum refineries is commonly carried out by means of catalytic hydrodesulfurization (HDS) using catalysts based on Co-Mo or Ni-Mo, which are able to convert most aliphatic sulfur compounds into H2S. However, the technique presents difficulties in treating streams with aromatic sulfur compounds. Recently, works have shown the success of the desulfurization extraction (EDS) in microchannels, which presents a high area-to-volume ratio and provides intensification of mass transfer. For EDS to be consolidated in microsystems, one of the main factors is the adequate choice of solvents guided by technical-environmental factors. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) and Eutectic Solvent (ES) are solvents that have the ability to act as a donor and acceptor of hydrogen and oxygen bonds, in addition to having fundamental characteristics, such as being biodegradable, non-corrosive, and having thermal stability. and chemistry and its low cost. The literature demonstrates the EDS performance for different fuel samples, but there are still gaps that need clarification, especially in the context of microfluidics. Thus, the present proposal aims at a robust study of the use of PEG 400 and, later, the Eutectic Solvent in the EDS of fuels in microfluidics under different flow conditions.