Carbon-Based Nanomaterials for Desulfurization

Abstract

The special interest in ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) is informed by the need to comply with the strict government policy on low sulfur content of transportation fuels. Better knowledge of different factors that concern deep desulfurization of fuels is important to achieve ultra-low sulfur fuels and cheaper way of producing ULSD. Both the capital and operating cost of the adsorptive desulfurization process is cheaper compare to the conventional hydroprocessing. The need to produce more volume of fuel such as diesel with very low sulfur content from low grade feed stocks like heavy oil and light cycle oil (LCO) in order to meet up with the global demand for sulfur-free fuels is pertinent. Several on-going researches are pointing to the use of adsorbents for removal of sulfur compounds from the hydrocarbon refining stream. In this chapter, varieties of carbon nanomaterials suitable for adsorptive desulfurization are discussed. The approach is feasible for commercial applications with any adsorbent of an adequate lifetime of activity as well as high capacity.