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Fixed bed adsorption of benzothiophene over zeolites with faujasite structure

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Abstract

This work addresses the adsorption of benzothiophene (BT), as a model heterocyclic and aromatic sulphur compound present in road fuels, over agglomerated zeolites with faujasite structure. Several adsorbents based on zeolites with FAU structure have been prepared with different Si/Al molar ratios and exchange cations and then agglomerated. The influence of the zeolite basicity has been studied, both in equilibrium and dynamic liquid phase adsorption experiments. Basicity of the adsorbent increased as the Si/Al molar ratio and the electronegativity of the exchange cation decreased. In equilibrium experiments, the affinity towards the adsorbent increased as the Si/Al molar ratio decreased, showing the highest affinity for exchanged low silica X zeolites with medium basicity (A-KLSX-02). Dynamic experiments showed that the less zeolite basicity, the higher fractional bed utilization and adsorption capacity at breakthrough time. Besides, zeolites with high basicity did not reach the equilibrium capacity due to the low diffusivity of BT into the micropores. Thermogravimetric analyses of the spent adsorbents showed a stronger BT adsorption onto the more basic zeolites. As main conclusion, adsorbents with medium basicity could present the best performance in fuel desulphurization due to their high affinity with sulphur compounds, although diffusion problems should be taken into account.

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Abbreviations

BT:

Benzothiophene

C :

Sulphur concentration, ppmw

FAU:

Faujasite

FBU :

Fractional bed utilization; defined as q br/q sat

K :

Equilibrium constant, ppm−1; parameter defined in (2)

q :

Adsorption capacity, mg g−1

q D.eq :

Adsorption capacity from the isotherm at a given concentration, mg g−1

q max :

Maximum adsorption capacity, mg g−1; parameter defined in (2)

S :

Sanderson electronegativity of an element; parameter defined in (1)

S int :

Sanderson intermediate electronegativity; parameter defined in (1)

t :

Time, min

T :

Temperature, K

0:

Initial

br:

Breakthrough time

eq:

Equilibrium

p, q, r:

Stoichiometric coefficient of the atom in a unit cell of adsorbent

P, Q, R:

Elements present in zeolite composition

sat:

Saturation time

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    J. L. Sotelo, M. A. Uguina & V. I. Águeda

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  1. J. L. Sotelo
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  2. M. A. Uguina
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  3. V. I. Águeda
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Correspondence to J. L. Sotelo.

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Sotelo, J.L., Uguina, M.A. & Águeda, V.I. Fixed bed adsorption of benzothiophene over zeolites with faujasite structure. Adsorption 13, 331–339 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10450-007-9030-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10450-007-9030-8

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