Preparation of Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Membrane Adsorbents for Gasoline Desulfurization: Control of the Membrane Structure

Abstract

The hybrid membranes have been prepared using polyethersulfone (PES) as membrane matrix material and cerium-loaded Y-zeolites (CeY) particles as adsorptive functional group for gasoline desulfurization. The structures of hybrid membrane have a significant influence on membrane performance and adsorption desulfurization process. In this study, the effects of dope composition and membrane formation conditions including coagulation bath composition and its’ temperature on membrane structures were investigated in detail. The SEM results showed that air-side surface of the membrane were a dense layer structure, cross-section of the membrane great changes of the structure present when change the dope composition and membrane formation conditions. From the SEM photos of membrane at glass-side, it can be seen that the inorganic particles were tightly held together within the porous polymeric matrix. The appropriate structures of inorganic/organic hybrid membrane adsorbents can be got by regulating dope composition and membrane formation conditions. The maximum adsorption capacity was 21.6mg S/g membrane, which should have the potential to be used for the deep desulfurization of gasoline.