Selective adsorption of dibenzothiophene by functionalized metal organic framework sorbents

Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, Volume 103, Issues 3-4, 5 April 2011, Pages 261-265

Selective adsorption of dibenzothiophene by functionalized metal organic framework sorbents

Fan Shi 1, Maha Hammoud 2, Levi T. Thompson

fanshi@umich.edu

ltt@umich.edu

University of Michigan, Department of Chemical Engineering, 2300 Hayward Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2136, USA

Abstract

Adsorption of organosulfur compounds directly from liquid fuels has potential advantages over hydrodesulfurization processes.  They include higher efficiencies and lower costs.

Authors prepared a series of sorbents by decomposing Mo(CO)6 onto MOF-5.  Results were evaluated for the selective adsorption of dibenzothiophene from solutions containing i-octane, naphthalene and/or benzene.

The resulting materials had Mo loadings up to 20 wt%, surface areas in excess of 1800 m2/g and pore size distributions that were very similar to those for the parent MOF-5.  The materials showed strong affinities for the adsorption of dibenzothiophene in the absence and presence of the types of aromatic compounds typically found in transportation fuels. Sulfur uptakes at breakthrough approached 0.5 mmolS/g, corresponding to surface coverages of ∼4%. The materials could be developed to remove sulfur from gasoline, diesel and military logistics fuels.

[EXCERPT]

... with strong interactions between DBT and adsorption sites on the aMoC x /MOF-5 sorbents and relatively weak interactions for MOF-5. Several mechanisms have been proposed for the adsorption of organosulfur compounds including π-complexation interactions between ...

Full Text Source (Subscription or Fee): http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092633731000322X