DESULPHURIZATION OF LIQUID FUELS BY SELECTIVE ADSORPTION THROUGH MINERAL CLAYS AS ADSORBENTS

Different clays collected from local sources, including Kaolinite, Montmorollinte, Palygorskite and Vermiculite have been utilized for the selective adsorption of sulphur compounds prevailing in petroleum products i.e. crude oil, kerosene and diesel oil. The desulphurization activity of the clay was compared with the charcoal, ion exchange resins and with each other. Desulphurization was performed in batch operation at different time intervals i.e 1, 3 and 6 hrs at 40 oC temperature. Out of different adsorbents used, Kaoilinte exhibited the maximum desulphurization yield of 60 %, 76 % and 64 % at 6 hrs adsorption incase of crude oil, kerosene and diesel oil respectively. All the mineral clays adsorbents were characterized by surface area, SEM and EDX analysis. The FT-IR study of the desulphurized fractions revealed that mostly high molecular weight thioles and thiophenic compounds were depleted during adsorption process.