Adsorptive desulfurization of fuels with Cu(I)/SBA-15 via low-temperature reduction

Cu+-modified SBA-15 mesoporous adsorbents (Cu(I)/SBA-15) were prepared via a low temperature reduction with diluted hydrazine hydrate aqueous solution as reduction agent. The samples were characterized by XRD, N-2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, TEM, XPS, and H-2-TPR It was revealed that the amount and state of Cu+ species on SBA-15 was significantly affected by the reduction temperature. The Cu+ ratio of the total amount of copper species increased when the reduction temperature increased from 20 degrees C to 40 degrees C, the Cu+ species have a high dispersion on the SBA-15, and the mesoporous structure of SBA-15 still keeps intact. In contrast, when the reduction temperature was raised up to 50 degrees C, the Cu+ amount obviously decreased, some aggregated Cu2O formed on SBA-15, and the SBA-15 matrix suffered partial damage. The thiophene adsorption capacity on the Cu(I)/SBA-15(n) was measured, and the Cu(I)/SBA-15(40) shows a higher adsorption capacity than the other samples due to the high Cu+ ratio of the total amount of copper species (80.77%) in Cu(I)/SBA-15(40). The adsorption equilibrium data were described by the Langmuir isotherm models and the maximum adsorption capacity (q(m)) of thiophene adsorbed by Cu(I)/SBA-15(n) was calculated by Langmuir model. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights