Desulfurization of Gasoline over Nanoporous Nickel-Loaded Y-Type Zeolite at Ambient Conditions

Abstract

Desulfurization of heavy straight-run gasoline (HSRG) was accomplished over Ni(II)−Y zeolite. Na−Y zeolite, a nanoporous adsorbent, was synthesized and ion-exchanged with NH4NO3 to obtain NH4−Y zeolite. The obtained material was then converted to H−Y zeolite by calcination. Ni−Y zeolite was prepared by solid-state ion exchange (SSIE) of H−Y zeolite using Ni(NO3)2·6H2O. The breakthrough curve for desulfurization of HSRG containing about 140 ppmw of sulfur compounds was obtained in a batch reactor at ambient conditions. The effects of temperature, Ni content in the zeolite framework, and aging of the zeolite on the desulfurization process were investigated. Ni−Y zeolite exhibited a high capability for the desulfurization of gasoline at ambient conditions.