Application of adsorptive process for desulphursation of fuel using coconut fiber as adsorbents

Abstract The development of more efficient and low-cost adsorbents to remove sulfur compounds has been improving, for instance, processes used in oil refining. Efficiency of desulfurization is correlated to the characteristics found in the adsorbent such as adsorption capacity, durability and regenerateness. This study aims to prepare coconut fiber impregnated with nickel and evaluate its adsorptive capacity of sulfur compounds such as the thiophene present in fuels. The utilized adsorbent was coconut fiber (mesocarp) obtained in the city of Quixadá, state of Ceará, and the adsorbate was thiophene in n-hexane solution. During an adsorbent characterization test it could be observed that the number of proton charges in the surface of both natural and modified fibers is a function of pH. The materials showed adsorptive capacity of 35,0 mg.g-1 of the sulfur compound. In the balance study, isotherm was best represented by the math model of Redlich-Peterson, which indicates heterogeneity in the adsorption sites. Adsorption kinetics was more adequate with the pseudo-second order model.