CuO supported on COK-12 and SBA-15 ordered mesoporous materials for temperature swing SOx adsorption

Ordered mesoporous SBA-15 and COK-12 supports with similar mesopore diameter were loaded with 15 wt% of CuO and evaluated as adsorbents in a desulfurization process involving SOx adsorption and regeneration. Both SBA-15 and COK-12 have a hexagonal arrangement of parallel tubular mesopores. The impact of relatively small differences of the structural and textural properties of the two supports on SOx adsorption and regenerability is investigated. After impregnation with copper nitrate solution and calcination at 500 degrees C, the samples do not show any characteristic XRD pattern of copper-based phases, confirming the highly dispersed state of CuO, which is also checked by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The COK-CuO15 sample has slightly higher porosity than the SBA-CuO15 sample. The pore volume of both supports is slightly reduced after impregnation-calcination and shaping (Pelletized, Crushed and Sieved - PCS) steps. As for its SOx adsorptive properties, after fifteen adsorption-regeneration cycles at 400 degrees C, the COK-CuO15_PCS sample exhibits dynamic and total adsorption capacities higher than those of the SBA-CuO15_PCS adsorbent. In addition, both adsorbents preserve their adsorption capacities over the 15 cycles. The COK-12 support for the CuO active phase provides very promising results in comparison with the literature data for SBA-CuO15 adsorbent.

Automated summary

This study evaluated SBA-15 and COK-12 supports loaded with CuO for desulfurization through SOx adsorption and regeneration processes. The COK-12 support exhibited promising results in terms of adsorption capacity and regenerability compared to SBA-15, highlighting the importance of support structure in influencing adsorbent performance.