Adsorption of dimethyl disulfide on ZSM-5 from methyl tert-butyl ether liquid: A study on equilibrium and kinetics

• DMDS adsorption isotherm onto ZSM-5 can be interpreted by Langmuir model.
• DMDS adsorption onto ZSM-5 zeolite takes place through physical interaction and degree of freedom decrease.
• The DMDS adsorption kinetic can be modeled by pseudo-first-order equation.
• ZSM-5 can remove all the sulfur component in MTBE efficiently in the dynamic adsorption experiment until breakthrough at 35 min.

The adsorption of dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) onto ZSM-5 zeolite from methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) solution was investigated in the aspects of adsorption equilibrium and kinetics. Factors that influence adsorption process including time, temperature and initial concentration have been investigated carefully. The adsorption kinetics data could be described by pseudo-first-order very well. The Langmuir equation could be used to interpret the adsorption isotherm and the thermodynamic parameters were derived from the Langmuir constant (kL). The minus values of enthalpy and Gibbs free energy of adsorption indicate that the adsorption of DMDS on ZSM-5 is exothermic and spontaneous. Adsorption breakthrough curve was found to be typically S-shape.