Adsorptive desulfurization of thiophene, benzothiophene and dibenzothiophene over activated carbon manganese oxide nanocomposite: with column system evaluation

• Published in: Journal of cleaner production 2017-06, Vol.154, p.401-412
• Main Authors: Saleh, Tawfik A., Sulaiman, Kazeem O., AL-Hammadi, Saddam A., Dafalla, H., Danmaliki, Gaddafi I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activated carbon; Adsorption; Desulfurization; Manganese oxide
• ISSN: 0959-6526; 1879-1786
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.03.169

Activated carbon was successfully treated with manganese oxide to further improve its surface properties for adsorptive desulfurization. The activated carbon-manganese oxide nanocomposite consisting 10% optimum metal loading showed significant adsorptive desulfurization efficiency. The textural properties (surface area 160.98 m2g−1, total pore volume 0.141 cm3g−1, and average pore diameter 9.27 nm) and surface chemistry of the as-synthesized activated carbon-manganese oxide adsorbent were crucial to the efficient desulfurization. The as-synthesized adsorbent displayed oxygen-containing functional groups and distinct pore structures that enabled rapid uptake of the refractory sulfur compounds within the initial 5 min of the adsorption process. The adsorption experimental data were best fitted to pseudo-second order kinetic and Temkin isotherm models. Adsorption capacities of 4.5 mg g−1, 5.7 mg g−1, and 11.4 mg g−1 were obtained for simultaneous adsorption of thiophene, benzothiophene, and dibenzothiophene on the as-synthesized adsorbent in a batch process, and the same trend was retained in the fixed bed model. The π-complexation and the direct sulfur-metal interaction could justify the greatest adsorption capacity for dibenzothiophene. [Display omitted] •Efficient sorbent of activated carbon loaded with MnO nanoparticles was prepared.•The material showed high performance adsorptive desulfurization of thiophenes.•Results indicated the material are promising for real applications.