Preparation of the Modified Y Zeolite for Removal of Organic Sulfur Compounds from FCC Gasoline

Abstract

Ce(IV)-loaded modified NaY (NH4Y) zeolite was prepared for selective adsorptive desulfurization from fluid catalytic cracked (FCC) gasoline. Ce(β)Y was obtained from NH4Y using a liquid-phase ion-exchange method. Ce(IV)Y was obtained from calcining Ce(β)Y at 550°C. The structures of the Ce(IV)Y and NaY samples, selective adsorption of organic sulfur compounds on Ce(IV)Y and NaY zeolite, sulfur content of FCC gasoline, and mechanism for adsorption of thiophene on Ce(IV)Y and NaY zeolite were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), gas chromatography–sulfur chemiluminescence detection (GC-SCD), sulfur analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), frequency response (FR), and intelligent gravimetric analysis (IGA). The selective adsorption desulfurization from FCC gasoline containing organic sulfur compounds (S = 135 μg/g) was investigated with Ce(IV)Y adsorbent for removal. The sulfur content was reduced to 20.14 μg/g. The thiophene adsorption mechanism showed that Ce(IV)Y can adsorb thiophene via π electronic interaction directly, and thiophene and Ce(IV) can form a stable sulfur–metal bond (S-M bond) that enhances the adsorption capacity of Ce(IV)Y for thiophene. This method for the modification of NaY zeolite provides a promising selective desulfurization process to prepare clean fuels.