Extraction of Sulfur Compounds from Model Petroleum Products using Fe3 O4 Nanoparticles and Acetic Acid-1-Butyl-3-Methylimidazolium Chloride based on Deep Eutectic Solvents

  • Yousif T. Maaroof Department of Petroleum Technology, Erbil Technology College, Erbil Polytechnic University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8267-2884
  • Idrees B. Qader (1) Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq; (2) Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, University of Kurdistan-Hawler, Erbil, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1342-4374
  • Hani K. Ismail Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Health, Koya University, Koya, KOY45, Kurdistan Region – F.R., Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5407-1806
  • Hardi Q. Hamad Department of Petroleum Technology, Chemical Analysis, Koya Technical Institute, Erbil Polytechnic University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq https://orcid.org/0009-0005-2158-6594
  • Sardasht R. Taher Department of Petroleum Technology, Chemical Analysis, Koya Technical Institute, Erbil Polytechnic University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq https://orcid.org/0009-0006-4202-474X
Keywords: Air pollution, Desulfurization, Deep eutectic solvents, Model petroleum, Solvent extraction

Abstract

This research demonstrates that deep eutectic solvents (DESs) can eliminate sulfur compounds, which are corrosive and carcinogenic species, from model petroleum products through liquid-liquid extraction. Several monoprotic acids, including formic acid and acetic acid, are used to make DESs, along with 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BmimCl) as a hydrogen bond acceptor. These DESs are used for the first time to remove sulfur compounds (thiophene and dibenzothiophene) from an alkane as a model hydrocarbon (n-octane), which is used instead of crude oil as the latter contains a variety of species, including nitrogen compounds, hydrocarbons, and oxygen. The optimal parameters for the removal of sulfur are discussed, including the extraction temperature, reaction time, and mass ratio of DES to the model hydrocarbon, whilst the regeneration of DESs is also considered. H2O2 and iron oxide (Fe3O4) are also used as nanoparticle (NP) catalysts to enhance the sulfur removal process. Several characterization methods, including scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, energy dispersive X-ray, and transmission electron microscopy, are used to determine the structural characteristics of the Fe3O4 NPs. The results show that acetic acid, as a monoprotic acid-based DES, is able to remove more than 86% of the sulfur molecules from model petroleum products when the mass ratio of DES to model petroleum products is 2:1, at 30°C and within 60 min. This research provides an important opportunity to advance our understanding of the role of DESs in removing carcinogenic and corrosive particles in industrial processes.

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Author Biographies

Yousif T. Maaroof, Department of Petroleum Technology, Erbil Technology College, Erbil Polytechnic University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq

Yousif T. Maarof is a Lecturer at the Department of Petroleum Technology, College of Technology, at Erbil Polytechnic University, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. He got the B.Sc. degree in Chemistry Science in 2011, the M.Sc. degree in Analytical Chemistry in 2016, and the Ph.D. degree in Instrumental Analysis Chemistry in 2023, all from Salahaddin University-Erbil. His research interests are in environmental analysis, nano/materials characterization, separation techniques, and pharmaceutical analysis.

Idrees B. Qader, (1) Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq; (2) Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, University of Kurdistan-Hawler, Erbil, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq

Idrees B. Qader is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. He has been working at Hawler Medical University since 2006. He gained a B.Sc. degree in Chemistry from the College of Science, Salahaddin University, in 2005, an M.Sc. degree in Analytical Chemistry from Salahaddin University in 2011, and he achieved a Ph.D. degree in Analytical Chemistry from the Chemistry department at Leicester University, United Kingdom, in 2018. His current research is mainly related to pharmaceutical deep eutectic solvents and ionic liquids, pharmaceutical formulation and drug analysis, extraction of bioactive molecules from natural products, nano/materials characterization, electrochemistry and electrochemical characterization, and metal-organic frameworks.

Hani K. Ismail, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Health, Koya University, Koya, KOY45, Kurdistan Region – F.R., Iraq

Hani K. Ismail is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Health at Koya University, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. He got the B.Sc. degree in Chemistry Science from the University of Mosul in 2005, and the M.Sc. degree in Polymer Chemistry from the University of Mosul in 2008, and the Ph.D. degree in Industrial and Polymer Chemistry from the Chemistry department at Leicester University, United Kingdom, in 2017. His current research is mainly related to electrically conducting polymer composites, polymer chemistry, nano/materials characterization, removal of waste materials from wastewater, electroplating of metals and alloys, deep eutectic solvents, and ionic liquids. 

Hardi Q. Hamad, Department of Petroleum Technology, Chemical Analysis, Koya Technical Institute, Erbil Polytechnic University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq

Hardi Q. Hamad is an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Petroleum Technology—Chemical Analysis at Koya Technical Institute, Erbil Polytechnic University, located in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. He got his B.Sc. in Chemistry from the Chemistry department, Science College, Salahaddin University-Erbil in 2009, and his M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry from the Chemistry department, Faculty of Science and Health, Koya University, in 2022. His research focuses on organic chemistry, including the synthesis of antibacterial compounds such as Schiff bases, thiazolidinones, oxazepines, and others. Additionally, his interests extend to molecular docking applications, environmental analysis, separation techniques, and pharmaceutical analysis.

Sardasht R. Taher, Department of Petroleum Technology, Chemical Analysis, Koya Technical Institute, Erbil Polytechnic University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region – F.R. Iraq

Sardasht R. Taher is a Lecturer with a Ph.D. in Physical-Organic Chemistry and serves as a teaching staff member in the Petroleum Technology–Chemical Analysis Department at Koya Technical Institute, Erbil Polytechnic University, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. He obtained his B.Sc. in Chemistry from the College of Science, Salahaddin University-Erbil, in 1998, followed by an M.Sc. in Petroleum Chemistry in 2012 and a Ph.D. in Physical-Organic Chemistry in 2024, both from the Faculty of Science and Health, Koya University. His research interests include evaluating and enhancing the quality of petroleum products, lubricant oil manufacturing, organic synthesis, and liquid crystals.

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Published
2024-12-29
How to Cite
Maaroof, Y. T., Qader, I. B., Ismail, H. K., Hamad, H. Q. and Taher, S. R. (2024) “Extraction of Sulfur Compounds from Model Petroleum Products using Fe3 O4 Nanoparticles and Acetic Acid-1-Butyl-3-Methylimidazolium Chloride based on Deep Eutectic Solvents”, ARO-THE SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL OF KOYA UNIVERSITY, 12(2), pp. 254-263. doi: 10.14500/aro.11776.