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

Elham S. Moosavi, Seyed A. Dastgheib and Ramin Karimzadeh
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Elham S. Moosavi: Chemical Engineering Faculty, Tarbiat Modares University, Post Office Box 14155-4838, Tehran, Iran
Seyed A. Dastgheib: Illinois State Geological Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois, 615 E. Peabody Drive, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
Ramin Karimzadeh: Chemical Engineering Faculty, Tarbiat Modares University, Post Office Box 14155-4838, Tehran, Iran

Energies, 2012, vol. 5, issue 10, 1-18

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.

Keywords: adsorption; activated carbon; thiophenic compound; impregnation; copper; nickel (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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