New Cu2O-SiO2 Composite Aerogel-like Desulfurization Adsorbents with Different Molar Ratio of Si/Cu Based on π-Complexation

Abstract

Cu2O-SiO2 composite aerogel-like adsorbents with different n(Si/Cu) were synthesized by a sol–gel method, followed by drying under atmospheric pressure, and characterized by BET, XRD, SEM, H2-TPR, XRF, and FTIR means. Their adsorption performance for thiophene and benzothiophene in model fuels was investigated with equilibrium and breakthrough adsorption experiments, respectively. The results showed that Cu2O-SiO2 composite aerogel-like adsorbents exhibited an excellent desulfurization performance based on π-complexation between Cu(I) and thiophenics. The n(Si/Cu) of Cu2O-SiO2 had an obvious effect on their physical properties and consequently desulfurization performance. The BET surface area, pore size, and pore volume decreased with the decrease of n(Si/Cu) (increase of Cu content). Only a part of Cu was incorporated into the materials. The more the Cu(I) and the higher the specific surface area, the larger the adsorption capacity was. Cu2O-SiO2-50 performed the best, and breakthrough adsorption capacit...