Performance of adsorptive desulfurization over modified Y zeolites

Modified Y zeolites were prepared by ion exchanging with Cu²⁺ and Ce³⁺ ions and characterized by XRF, XRD, etc. The model fuel containing several sulfur compounds (thiophene, 2-methylthiophene, 3-methylthiophene, tetrahydrothiophene and benzothiophene) in n-octane was prepared, and the adsorption effect of modified Y zeolite to the model fuel and the adsorptive selectivity for above five sulfur compounds were analyzed by total sulfur analyzer and gas chromatograph coupled with a pulsed flame photometric detector (GC-PFPD). The results showed that the CuY zeolite adsorbed more sulfur compounds than others, and the adsorptive selectivities to different sulfur compounds were consistent with the electron density of sulfur atom in compound. The steric hindrance of sulfur compound was not an important factor for its adsorption on Y zeolite.