Using novel nanostructured materials for desulphurisation and oil clean-up

Abstract

Fuel specifications for transportation fuels have become increasingly stringent with respect to sulphur content in the past few years. The processing cost and the price of crude oil is influenced by its sulphur content. Consequently, the removal of sulphur from oil remains one of the key issues for all parts of the oil industry, including both upstream and downstream processing. The major challenge is to minimise this cost and sulphur content by using novel methods for deep desulphurisation. Small and medium-scale Iraqi refineries need a novel, low temperature, and benign desulphurisation method especially in consideration of increasing demand for derivatives due to the decrease in capacity after the war and the lack of hydrodesulphurisation units. The aim of this work is to develop such a technology based on adsorptive desulphurisation using a nanostructured polymerized high internal phase emulsion polymer due to its high surface area and the sorbent ability that can adsorb many times its own weight in sulphur compounds whilst rejecting hydrocarbons. A model fuel oil was prepared from n-octane as the solvent and the main organosulphur compounds (butanethiol, di n-propyl sulphide, dimethyl disulphide, benzothiophene and dibenzothiophene) to be used as a feed to the adsorptive desulphorisation process. The basic adsorbent was prepared in different mixing time using a HIPE consisting of an oil phase of 78 wt.% monomer, 8wt. % cross-linking agent and 14 wt.% surfactant mixed with an aqueous phase containing a polymerisation initiator (potassium persulphate), then the product conducted in sulphur removal and characterised in more detail. The project involved producing further adsorbents by using monoethanolamine and activated carbon that assessing improving the adsorption capacity and regeneration ability. This followed by testing the sulphur removal capacity of the material using real industrial oils. Characterisation and analysis of all materials will be undertaken before and after testing by SEM, then FTIR, BET, mechanical compression, and oil uptake tests to assess material handleability.