Diesel Desulfurization Using Reactive Adsorption on Metal Impregnated Functionalized Polymer

Separation Science and Technology, Volume 46, Issue 10, 2011, pages 1647-1655

Diesel Desulfurization Using Reactive Adsorption on Metal Impregnated Functionalized Polymer

Yogesh P. Koparkara & Vilas G. Gaikara*

a Chemical Engineering Department, Institute of Chemical Technology, Matunga, Mumbai, India

Abstract

Organosulfur compounds were removed from commercial diesel by reactive adsorption on metal impregnated functionalized polymers at ambient temperature and pressure.  Adsorption and desorption cycle studies in a column packed with Ag+ and Cu+ loaded BSR resin revealed intraparticle resistance affecting uptake of the sulfur compounds.

Although only 40% of the adsorbed organo-sulfur compounds was recovered by solvent regeneration using toluene, complete regeneration of the bed was possible by simultaneous microwave heating. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations show stronger interaction between organosulfur compounds and Cu(I) on the polymer resins.

[EXCERPT]

Several researchers have demonstrated π-complexation of Cu + or Ag + with thiophenes, theoretically by molecular orbital calculations as well as experimentally

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