Selective Adsorption of Dibenzothiophenes on Activated Carbons with Ag, Co, and Ni Species Deposited on Their Surfaces

Abstract

Adsorption of dibenzothiophene (DBT) and 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT) from simulated diesel fuel with 20 ppm total concentration of sulfur was investigated on three polymer-derived carbon-containing silver, cobalt, and nickel species. The initial and exhausted carbons were characterized using adsorption of nitrogen, thermal analysis, XRD, SEM, and TEM. The selectivities for DBT and 4,6-DMDBT adsorption were calculated with reference to naphthalene. The results showed a good adsorption capacity of the carbons studied. The adsorbents remove DBT and 4,6-DMDBT selectively from model diesel fuel. Metal species contribute to an increase in the number of active centers, which enable adsorption of DBT and 4,6-DMDBT on the surface. That surface would not be used to the same extent when only dispersive forces were involved. Nanosize metallic silver particles not only attract DBT and 4,6-DMDBT but also catalyze their oxidation.