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A novel desulfurization practice based on diesel acidification prior to activated carbon adsorption

  • Environmental Engineering
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Abstract

Commercial diesel is often rich with organosulfur compounds and a value of 7,100 mgS/kg was recently reported. As confirmed by chromatographic analysis, about 36% of sulfur compounds are originated from dibenzothiophene. Following uncommon desulfurization method, organosulfur compounds were efficiently removed upon diesel acidification by organic acids prior to activated carbon adsorption. Protonation of S-containing compounds has enhanced their uptake by activated carbon. Competitive adsorption of di/tri/tetra-aromatics and dibenzothiophene from synthetic fuel proved that the later solute was preferentially removed against other aromatics upon fuel acidification. Results showed that 48% of organosulfur compounds were eliminated upon adding acetic acid to a final content of 3% by vol.. Principal component analysis indicated that acid content and carbon mass are the most significant factors on organosulfur compounds removal: %Removal=5.8 (Acid Content)+6.3 (Mass)-0.02 (PD)-0.90 (Temp). The practical efficiency of the proposed method was demonstrated by removing organosulfur compounds from commercial diesel.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, State of Qatar, Qatar

    Mohammad Ahmad Al-Ghouti

  2. Department of Chemistry, Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan

    Yahya Salem Al-Degs

Authors
  1. Mohammad Ahmad Al-Ghouti
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  2. Yahya Salem Al-Degs
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Correspondence to Mohammad Ahmad Al-Ghouti.

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Al-Ghouti, M.A., Al-Degs, Y.S. A novel desulfurization practice based on diesel acidification prior to activated carbon adsorption. Korean J. Chem. Eng. 32, 685–693 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-014-0303-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-014-0303-0

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