Zirconia-silica based mesoporous desulfurization adsorbents

Authors

• Jessica M. Palomino, University of California
• Dat T. Tran, U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Adelphi, MD
• Ana R. Kareh, University of California
• Christopher A. Miller, University of California
• Joshua M.V. Gardner, University of California
• Hong Dong, U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD
• Scott R.J. Oliver, University of California

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2015

Citation

Journal of Power Sources 278 (2015) 141-148

Abstract

We report a series of mesoporous silicate sorbent materials templated by long-chain primary alkylamines that display record level of desulfurization of the jet fuel JP-8. Pure silica frameworks and those with a Si:Zr synthesis molar ratio ranging from 44:1 to 11:1 were investigated. The optimum sorbent was identified as dodecylamine-templated silica-zirconia synthesized from a gel with Si:Zr molar ratio of 15:1. With an optimized silver loading of 11 wt.%, a saturation adsorption capacity of 39.4 mgS g^-1 and a silver efficiency of 1.21 molS mol Ag^-1 were observed for JP-8. This sorbent displayed exceptional regenerability, maintaining 86% of its initial capacity in model fuel after solvent regeneration with diethyl ether. Low-cost, portable and reusable sorbents for the desulfurization of JP-8 jet fuel are needed to make solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) a reality for military power needs. SOFCs require ultra-low sulfur content fuel, which traditional desulfurization methods cannot achieve.