JP-8 Desulfurization by CuNa-Y Zeolite at Elevated Temperatures Has Two Distinct Stages: Chemisorption Followed by Surface Reactions

Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
American Chemical Society
Abstract

This study evaluates the performance of continuous-flow adsorbers for adsorptive desulfurization. JP-8 fuel with 2230 ppmw of sulfur was treated in a flow-through adsorber packed with CuNa-Y zeolite pellets and operating at 180 °C and 200 psig with liquid hourly space velocities (LHSV) from 0.13 to 3.24 h–1. Our results showed that a flow-through adsorber operating under these conditions can effectively reduce the sulfur content of JP-8 to ultralow values (1–10 ppmw) over the entire LHSV range tested, although the overall performance of the adsorber declined with increasing flow rates as expected. We also observed that the total sulfur removal exceeded the theoretical adsorption limit of our zeolite adsorbent. Detailed characterization of the treated fuel and spent adsorbent via chromatographic and surface analysis techniques revealed that desulfurization occurs in two stages. Sulfur is initially removed via adsorption (chemisorption) on the CuNa-Y zeolite, an assertion supported by simulations with a transient heterogeneous model. As the adsorbent becomes saturated, however, surface chemical reactions start taking place, leading to the formation of hydrogen sulfide and polymerization products and depositing carbon residues on the zeolite. The spent adsorbent was regenerated by treating it with air at 550 or 600 °C, which restored the adsorption capacity of the material to about 90% of its initial value.

Description
Advisor
Degree
Type
Journal article
Keywords
Citation

da Silva, Priscilla Dias, Wong, Michael S. and Zygourakis, Kyriacos. "JP-8 Desulfurization by CuNa-Y Zeolite at Elevated Temperatures Has Two Distinct Stages: Chemisorption Followed by Surface Reactions." Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 60, no. 40 (2021) American Chemical Society: 14534-14546. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.1c02131.

Has part(s)
Forms part of
Rights
This is an author's peer-reviewed final manuscript, as accepted by the publisher. The published article is copyrighted by the American Chemical Society.
Link to license
Citable link to this page