Adsorptive desulfurization of thiophene, benzothiophene and dibenzothiophene over activated carbon manganese oxide nanocomposite: with column system evaluation. (15th June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Saleh, Tawfik A.; Sulaiman, Kazeem O.; AL-Hammadi, Saddam A.; Dafalla, H.; Danmaliki, Gaddafi I.
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 154(2017)
• Page Start: 401
• Page End: 412
• Publication Date: 2017-06-15
• Subjects: Activated carbon -- Manganese oxide -- Adsorption -- Desulfurization; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.03.169
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: 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 m 2 g −1, total pore volume 0.141 cm 3 g −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. Graphical abstract: Highlights: 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.