GEL POLIMERICI DA LIQUIDI IONICI: MATERIALI ECOSOSTENIBILI PER LA DESOLFORAZIONE DEI CARBURANTI

Bio-based chitosan and cellulose ionic liquid gels: polymeric soft materials for the desulfurization of fuel

Desulfurization of fuel that avoids the introduction in the atmosphere of toxic sulfur volatile compounds, usually formed during combustion, is a viable strategy to reduce pollution. To find new efficient and eco-sustainable adsorbent materials, bio-based polymers such as chitosan (CS), cellulose (CE) and cellulose acetate (CEOAc) were dissolved in ionic liquids (ILs) to form ionic liquid gels (ILGs). Gelling and swelling ability, porosity, morphology, rheology and mechanical response were studied as a function of the polymer and ionic liquid (IL) used. The best performing gels were tested for fuel desulfurization using a fuel mimicking solution of thiophene (T), benzothiophene (BT) and dib…