Towards novel adsorptive nanomaterials: Synthesis of Co2+Mo6+ LDH for sulfur and aromatic removal from crude petrolatum

• A novel Co/Mo(CO3)2−-LDH material of highly energetic surface as a new type of M2+-M6+-LDH homogeneous co-precipitation method under constant pH.
• Nano-layered be selective as adsorbent for di-aromatics.
• Microcrystalline waxes isolated by removing sulfur, aromatics and low melting waxes.

In the present work Co/Mo(CO3)2−-LDH material of highly energetic surface was prepared by controlled titration of ammonium carbonate and ammonium hydroxide against Co and Mo cations at elevated temperatures, while different analytical techniques were applied to proof the chemical constitution and surface features of the material as XPS (X-ray Photoelectric Spectroscopy) in addition to XRF metal analysis, FT-IR, SEM, XRD, DSC-TGA and N2 adsorption–desorption isotherm. The highly energetic surface due to formation of 4+ surface charge in the brucite layer between Co and Mo as confirmed by XPS was practically ensured when the freshly prepared Co2+Mo6+-LDH dried at 60 °C overnight without any activation has been applied as a novel adsorbent for the removal of the undesirable compounds (sulfur and aromatics compounds) from crude waxes. Suez crude petrolatum has been used during this study. Depending on the experimental data, we were successful to prepare a new type of LDHs showed high ability for removing the undesirable compounds (sulfur and aromatics) from Suez crude petrolatum. Also, in the same trend it removed low melting waxes. This leads to isolation of microcrystalline waxes from petroleum wastes which used as a lubricant, rust preventive, in the manufacture of cosmetics, and in medicine as a protective dressing, emollient, and in a lot of industrial applications.