Adsorptive desulfurization of gasoline over nickel-based adsorbent for fuel cell applications

Adsorptive desulfurization of model and real gasoline fuels over a Ni-based adsorbent was conducted in a flowing adsorption system at 25°-200°C under ambient pressure without using H₂ gas for producing ultra-low-sulfur gasoline for fuel cell applications. Adsorptive selectivity and capacity of the adsorbent for various sulfur compounds and effects of olefins coexisting in gasoline as well as effect of temperature on the adsorptive performance were examined. Ni-based adsorbent showed higher selectivity and capacity for the adsorptive desulfurization of gasoline at 200°C. The adsorption of sulfur compounds on the Ni surface involved a hydrogenolysis of C-S bond of the adsorbed sulfur compounds to form nickel sulfides on the surface. The elevated temperature could improve significantly the desulfurization performance of the Ni-based adsorbent for real gasoline. The adsorptive mechanism and selectivity were discussed based on experimental and computational results. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 228th ACS National Meeting (Philadelphia, PA 8/22-26/2004).