Thiophene Capture by an Oxidation-Modified Activated Carbon Derived from Bergamot

A new type of activated carbon (Bergamot-Based Activated Carbon, BAC) was prepared and oxidized by peracetic acid. The modified BAC was characterized by N-2 adsorption, FT-IR, and base titration analyses. The results show that after modification by concentrated peracetic acid for 18h at 25 degrees C, the obtained materials show increase in pore volume from 0.55mL/g to 1.73mL/g, specific surface area from 1,874m(2)/g to 2,736m(2)/g, and the density of acidic surface oxygen complexes (CO, C-OH, and COOH) from 0.78mmol/g to 2.23mmol/g. IR and base titration results indicated that thiophene reacts with carbonyl groups to form phenols during desulfurization. Batch test results showed that the modified BACs show a good thiophene capture performance at 30 degrees C under the stirring speed of 250rpm/min, the adsorbents/fuel ratio of 1/20, and reaction time of 30min. The equilibrium adsorption data were well represented by the Langmuir isotherm equation. The maximum sulfur adsorption capacity of oxidation treated sample is 43.12mg/g, which is superior to the most carbonaceous materials reported in the literature. The saturated adsorbents can be regenerated with stripping with alcohol solution and nearly 100% of the desulfur capacity was recovered after regeneration.