Synthesis and performance of ZSM-5 and HZSM-5 in desulfurization of naphtha

Abstract

In this work, four ZSM-5 and HZSM-5 zeolites were synthesized hydrothermally with SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of 40 and 80 and the performance of these samples was studied in desulfurization of heavy naphtha. Samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), and temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia (NH3–TPD). All samples were tested at 450 °C, 15 bar, H2/Oil = 150 Nml/ml, and weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) = 1 h−1 in a fixed-bed reactor (a Catatest reactor system). The standard of ASTM-D5453 was used for measuring the total sulfur of the feed and products. The result shows that the HZSM-5 zeolites have higher acidity compared to ZSM-5 zeolite samples; as a result, they are more capable of eliminating sulfuric compounds. The sample with SiO2/Al2O3 of 40 shows 87% desulfurization.