Adsorptive Desulfurization of Liquid Hydrocarbons Utilizing Granular Cu/Cr-BDC@?-Al2O3 Bimetal-Organic Frameworks

A Cu/Cr-BDC@gamma-Al2O3 granular bimetal-organic framework was synthesized for the first time, and its performance in adsorption of thiophene from isooctane was investigated. XRD, BET, FT-IR, SEM, and EDX analysis confirmed the successful synthesis of the adsorbent. The adsorption performances of Cr-BDC, Cu-BDC, and Cu/Cr-BDC were compared, and the bimetallic adsorbent had a better performance due to the synergetic effects of the simultaneous presence of metals. Furthermore, the granular adsorbent had a better performance due to the prevention of the particle's agglomeration. The highest adsorption percentage and adsorbent capacity were 84% and 55 mg/g, respectively. Experimental data fitted with the pseudo second-order kinetic model as well as the Langmuir and D-R isotherm models indicated that the adsorption was monolayer and chemisorption was the dominating mechanism. The adsorbents were regenerative up to 5 times. Adsorption was due to the weak bonding of lone pair electrons on sulfur atoms of thiophene and empty orbitals of metals.

Automated summary

A Cu/Cr-BDC@gamma-Al2O3 granular bimetal-organic framework was successfully synthesized, and its adsorption performance for thiophene from isooctane was investigated. The bimetallic adsorbent exhibited better performance due to the synergistic effects of simultaneous metal presence, and the granular adsorbent prevented particle agglomeration. The highest adsorption percentage and adsorbent capacity were 84% and 55 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption mechanism was determined to be monolayer chemisorption based on experimental data fitting with kinetic and isotherm models, and the adsorbents could be regenerated up to 5 times.