Adsorption of Thiophenic Compounds from Model Diesel Fuel Using Copper and Nickel Impregnated Activated Carbons

Abstract

Adsorption of sulfur compoundsby porous materials is an effective way to produce cleaner diesel fuel.In this study, adsorption of refractory thiophenic sulfur compounds, i.e., benzothiophene (BT), dibenzothiophene (DBT), and 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT) in single-solute systems from n-hexane solutions onto metal-impregnated activated carbons was investigated. A hydrogen-treated activated carbon fiber was selectively loaded with Ni, NiO, Cu, Cu 2 O, and CuO species to systematically assess the impact of each metal species on the adsorption of thiophenic compounds (TC). Metal-loaded adsorbents had the same total metal contents and similar microporosities, but contained different types of copper or nickel species. All metal-loaded adsorbents showed enhanced adsorption of tested TC. Cu 2 O-or NiO-loaded adsorbents exhibited the highest uptakes, due to more specific interactions between Cu + or Ni 2+ species and TC molecules. The theoretical monolyer coverage of TC on the exposed Cu + sites was estimated and compared with that calculated from the experimental data. Results suggested catalytic conversion of TC molecules to other compounds on the Cu + sites, followed by adsorption of reaction products onto the carbon surface or multilayer accumulation of TC molecules on the Cu + sites. TC adsorption uptake of the majority of adsorbents followed the order of: 4,6-DMDBT > DBT > BT due to higher intensity of specific and non-specific interactions of larger TC molecules with adsorbents.

Influence of aluminium impregnation on activated carbon for enhanced desulfurization of DBT at ambient temperature: Role of surface acidity and textural properties

“…Typically, AC is mostly microporous in nature and there are efforts to create mesoporosity in it for extended applications [31]. The obtained commercial AC contained both mesopores and micropores, with high surface area greater than 1000 m 2 /g, wherein external surface area accounted for more than 60%.…”

Biodesulfurization of Petroleum Distillates—Current Status, Opportunities and Future Challenges

“…This is mainly because of the low sulfur uptake ability of the adsorbent material when the percentage of sulfur content in the oil fractions of interest is put into consideration. Another major setback of this adsorption method is the presence of competitive adsorption of aromatics and olefins, which results in a decrease in the sulfur uptake by the adsorbent [104][105][106]. Therefore, studies have suggested the use of pre-adsorbent for removing larger organo-sulfur molecules.…”

Low Temperature Performance of Selective Catalytic Reduction of NO with NH3 under a Concentrated CO2 Atmosphere

“…Among them, Mn-and Ce-based catalysts have drawn particular attention due to their abundant oxygen vacancies, which promote the redox cycle during SCR reactions [11][12][13][14]. In addition, activated carbon (AC) has been used as catalyst support for SCR, since it has high surface for metal loading and the presence of functional groups on the surface of activated carbon can also promote NO x conversion [15][16][17][18][19].…”