A hyper cross-linked ionic polymer
(HCIP) PVimBCmBn was synthesized
through free radical polymerization of 1-vinylimidazole (Vim) and
quaternized cross-linking with 1,4-bis(chloromethyl) benzene (BCmBn).
Its composition, structure, morphology, specific area, porous structure
and thermal stability were characterized, and the desulfurization
performance was investigated. The results show that the HCIP prepared
with stoichiometric ratio of PVim and BCmBn are ultrafine powders
with specific area of 99.6 m2·g–1 and average pore size of 16.1 nm, being micro/mesoporous materials.
The S-removability of HCIP is superior to its precursor (ethyl imidazole)
and the imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs), which manifests the
importance of the available micropores for the accommodation of sulfur
molecules with less energy barrier. The adsorption isotherms of PVimBCmBn
follow the Langmuir equation with its saturated adsorbance being 7.0,
5.2, and 4.1 mgS·g–1, respectively, for dibenzothiophene,
benzothiophene, and thiophene in model oil at 293 K. However, its
adsorptive removal ability for DBT in diesel oil is quite low due
to its limited S-selectivity with respect to the abundant confused
ring aromatics wherein.