Aerobic oxidative desulfurization of model mixtures under ultrasonic treatment

The aerobic oxidation of dibenzothiophene (DBT) was studied in hexadecane under ultrasonic treatment. Under these conditions, aldehydes can activate oxygen; however, the activation efficiency largely depends on the chemical nature of the aldehyde. The time dependence of the DBT oxidation in hexadecane was studied in the presence of valeraldehyde, caprinaldehyde, benzaldehyde, and anisaldehyde. After the treatment, the DBT concentration in hexadecane can decrease from 100 to 6 ppm. In the absence of ultrasonic treatment, the reaction does not proceed under these conditions.