Advanced oxidation processes for desulfurization: A review of heterogeneous catalytic systems

Desulfurization plays a critical role in the petroleum industry by removing sulfur compounds to meet stringent environmental regulations and enhance fuel quality. Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) have emerged as a transformative approach for industrial-scale desulfurization, leveraging the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to oxidize sulfur compounds effectively. This review comprehensively examines the applications of catalytic AOPs, including oxidative desulfurization (ODS), sonocavitation, photocatalysis, and electrochemical methods, highlighting their energy efficiency, environmental benefits, and potential for large-scale implementation. Catalytic AOPs offer significant advantages, such as reduced sulfur emissions, minimal chemical usage, and lower operational costs, while generating fewer harmful by-products than traditional hydrodesulfurization (HDS). Furthermore, emerging catalytic materials, including nanomaterials, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), biochar, and perovskites, exhibit exceptional activity, stability, and versatility for sulfur removal. The review also explores future trends, such as hybrid catalytic systems, green catalysis, advanced reactor designs, and integration with renewable energy sources. These advancements position catalytic AOPs are a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to traditional methods, paving the way for environmentally friendly and efficient desulfurization processes.