Adsorptive desulfurization of commercial diesel S500 using TiNi/AlMCM-41 and TiMo/AlMCM-41 nanoporous materials

Abstract Mesoporous adsorbents of the AlMCM-41 type impregnated with Ti-Ni and Ti-Mo bimetallic compounds were prepared, characterized and evaluated for the adsorptive desulfurization process of diesel. The AlMCM-41 materials were synthesized using the hydrothermal process, varying the times of 24, 48, and 72 hours, using cetyltrimethylammonium as a template. The calcined materials were impregnated with titanium, nickel, and molybdenum metals, with combinations of 15% by weight of active phase: 5.0% Ti and 10% Mo (TiMo) and 5.0% Ti and 10% Ni (TiNi). The materials were designated as TiMo/AlMCM-41 and TiNi/AlMCM-41. The obtained materials were tested as adsorbents for sulfur removal from a commercial S500 diesel sample, using a fixed-bed reactor containing a feeding system, a column packed with the adsorbent material and sample collectors, at room temperature under atmospheric pressure. It was verified that the sample containing TiNi/AlMCM-41 was the most efficient adsorbent, with capacity for removal of sulfur of 90%, for the sample containing the support synthesized at 48 hours. The high activity of TiNi/AlMCM-41 material was attributed to the π-complexation of the thiophene aromatic compounds and the synergism effect of the Ti-Ni bimetallic impregnated on the inner surface of the AlMCM-41 pores, allowing selective adsorption.