Desulfurization of Gasoline over Nanoporous Nickel-Loaded Y-Type Zeolite at Ambient Conditions

Desulfurization of heavy straight-run gasoline (HSRG) was accomplished over Ni-(II)-Y zeolite. Na-Y zeolite, a nanoporous adsorbent, was synthesized and ion-exchanged with NH4NO3 to obtain NH4-Y zeolite. The obtained material was then converted to H-Y zeolite by calcination. Ni-Y zeolite was prepared by solid-state ion exchange (SSIE) of H-Y zeolite using Ni(NO3)(2)center dot 6H(2)O. The breakthrough curve for desulfurization of HSRG containing about 140 ppmw of sulfur compounds was obtained in a batch reactor at ambient conditions. The effects of temperature, Ni content in the zeolite framework, and aging of the zeolite on the desulfurization process were investigated. Ni-Y zeolite exhibited a high capability for the desulfurization of gasoline at ambient conditions.