Desulfurization of transportation fuels

First results on n-complexation sorbents for desulfurization with Ag-Y and Cu(I)-Y zeolites have been reported recently [3,4]. In this work, we included the known commercial sorbents such as Na-Y, Na-ZSMS, H-USY, activated carbon and activated alumina (Alcoa Selexsorb) and made a direct comparison with Cu(l)-Y and Ag-Y which were the sorbents with n-complexation capability. Thiophene and benzene vapors were used as the model system for desulfurization. Although most of these studies can be applied directly to liquid phase problems, Cu-Y (auto-reduced) and Ag-Y zeolites were also used to separate liquid mixtures of thiophene/benzene, thiophene/n-octane, and thiophene/benzene/n-octane at room temperature and atmospheric pressure using fixed-bed adsorption/breakthrough techniques. These mixtures were chosen to understand the adsorption behavior of sulfur compounds present in hydrocarbon liquid mixtures and to study the performance of the adsorbents in the desulfurization of transportation fuels. Moreover, a technique for regeneration of the adsorbents was developed in this study [4]. 

Hernandez-Maldonado, A.J. and Yang, R.T. Desulfurization of transportation fuels by adsorption. Catalysis Reviews, Science and Engineering, 2004, 46 111. 

In summary, the design of membrane reactors for electrochemical desulfurization of transportation fuels should take into consideration the issues shown in Figure 14.10. 

Figure 14.10 Flow sheet of the design of the membrane reactor for desulfurization of transportation fuels.

Yang RT, Hernandez-Maldonado AJ, Yang FH (2003) Desulfurization of transportation fuels with zeolites under ambient conditions. Science 301 79-81... 

Yang, R. T., Hemandez-Maldonado, A. J., Yang, F. H. Desulfurization of Transportation Fuels with Zeolites Under Ambient Conditions. Science 2003, 301,79-81. 

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