A vapor phase adsorptive desulfurization process for producing ultra low sulphur diesel using NiY zeolite as a regenerable adsorbent

Abstract

A NiY zeolite based vapor phase adsorptive desulfurization process has been described which can bring down sulphur concentration of a commercial BS IV grade (Euro IV equivalent) diesel from 50 ppm to a <5 ppm level. Compared to literature reports on fixed bed adsorptive desulfurization of diesel using zeolite adsorbents, the present process has the advantage of easy regenerability of the adsorbent with minimum temperature swing between adsorption and regeneration steps. Multi cycle stability of the desulfurization performance was also demonstrated.