Desulfurization of Gasoline Fuel via Photocatalytic Oxidation/Adsorption Using NaX Zeolite-Based under Mild Conditions: Process Optimization by Central Composite Design

In this study, Ni/TiO2/NaX zeolite nanoparticles were synthesized by hydrothermal and wet inoculation methods and characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM, EDXA, TEM, and BET/BJH techniques. Desulfurization of gasoline under visible light was investigated in a batch reactor under mild conditions. Response surface methodology with central composite design was used to investigate mass of Ni/TiO2/NaX zeolite nanoparticles as a photocatalyst and mass of NaX zeolite as adsorbent effects on conversion and process optimization. According to the experiments, the optimum conditions for the desulfurization of gasoline was determined with conversion percent of 92.29% with Ni/TiO2/NaX zeolite nanoparticles (0.68) and NaX zeolite adsorbent (0.84 g). In addition, the results showed that NaX zeolite adsorbent in the adsorption process has a high effect on gasoline desulfurization.