Dibenzothiophene removal from model fuel using an acid treated activated carbon

Sulfur containing compounds are one of the most concerning pollutants in fossil fuels. The increasing rate of fuel consumption around the globe reveals the necessity of further purification of the fuels In this study, application of adsorption process in removing dibenzothiophene from a model fuel is investigated. A granular activated carbon is treated with aqueous solution of nitric acid and implemented as the sorbent. Treatment of the activated carbon with nitric acid resulted in increasing the adsorption capacity of the activated car, bon, Freundlich and TOth isotherms are capable of sufficiently describing the equilibrium data. Investigation of the kinetics of the process is carried out using the homogeneous surface diffusion model. Internal and external mass transfer coefficients are 9.3917 x 10(-6) m(2)/min and 1.4153 x 10(-2) m/min for the virgin activated carbon (VAC) and 4.8738 x 10(-6) m(2)/min and 5,2529 x 10(-2) m/min for acid treated activated carbon (RAC), respectively.