Improvement of the ignition quality of the diesel fuel through adsorption desulfurization process using different commercial activated charcoals

Abstract

Desulfurization of diesel fuel was performed using two commercial activated charcoal sorbents. The two activated charcoals used in this study (PAC1 and PAC2) were powders. The desulfurization for diesel fuel was done at room temperature using 10 % by mass of the adsorbents with contact time of 1 hour. The surface chemistry and structure of the sorbent materials were studied using surface area analyzer and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) integrated with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The desulfurization process was evaluated using X-ray fluorescence analyzer. The activated charcoal samples showed to reduce the sulfur content down to 66.2% of the original sulfur content (398 ppm). The metal content of the sorbent materials, before and after desulfurization process, was determined using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) technique. Prior to analysis, the samples were prepared using microwave acid digestion. The desulfurization process resulted in a lower metal content in the fuel. The effect of the desulfurization process on the ignition quality, physical and chemical properties of the diesel fuel was studied. The amount of carbon residue, diesel index, calculated cetane index, and carbon aromaticity were evaluated. The ignition quality of the diesel fuel was improved by the adsorption desulfurization.