Metal Organic Framework-Graphene Nano-Composites for Desulfurization Process

Abstract

The combustion of fossil fuels containing sulfur compounds emits some of the sulfur oxides which considered a harmful influence on human health and the surrounding environment as well as the economy. Elimination of the sulfur compounds in the transportation fuel can be achieved by utilizing different desulfurization processes for the fuel products, which is commonly carried out using the catalytic hydrogen processing approaches (hydrodesulfurization), or by using different desulfurization process such as; oxidative and or adsorptive desulfurization. Adsorptive desulfurization is based on the ability of a solid adsorbent to selective adsorb organosulfur compounds from refinery streams which is depending on the interaction mechanism between the sulfur compounds and adsorbents. In this work, adsorptive desulfurization (ADS) process was applied to model oil (thiophene derivatives dissolved in dodecane) using metal organic framework (MOF) and/or metal organic framework graphene hybride nonocomposites (MOF/Gr) as adsorbents. Three MOFs {Cu-MOF, Fe-MOF, and Cr-MOF} have been prepared by green solvothermal method. The structure formation was systematically controlled according to the changing in the ratio of metal source and the organic ligand from 1:1 to 4:1 molar ratio. Then, the MOF sample