Ionic liquids in refinery desulfurization: comparison between biphasic and supported ionic liquid phase suspension processes.

The desulfurization of fuel compounds in the presence of ionic liquids is reported. For this purpose, the desulfurization efficiency of a variety of imidazolium phosphate ionic liquids has been tested. Dibenzothiophene/dodecane and butylmercaptan/decane mixtures were used as model systems.