Enhanced adsorption selectivity of dibenzothiophene on ordered mesoporous carbon-silica nanocomposites via copper modification

• Copper species were introduced to MCS via incipient wetness impregnation method.
• The selective adsorption of DBT was evaluated in the presence of 20 wt% benzene.
• MCS with 10wt.% copper exhibits higher selectivity for DBT than CMK-3 and SBA-15.
• The hybrid mesoporous carbon-silica nature is favorable for dispersion of copper.
• The synergistic effect between carbon and copper enhances adsorption selectivity.

In this study, copper-modified ordered mesoporous carbon-silica nanocomposites (MCSs) were synthesized by incipient wetness impregnation of copper nitrate. The desulfurization performance of the as-prepared adsorbents was evaluated by the selective adsorption of dibenzothiophene (DBT) as model sulfur compound from model fuels at ambient conditions. For comparison, the adsorptive desulfurization capacity for copper species supported on pure silica SBA-15 and pure carbonaceous CMK-3 was also investigated, respectively. The results indicate that MCS with 10wt.% of copper performed highest selectivity for DBT in competition with benzene. The significantly enhanced desulfurization performance of MCS could be attributed to its hybrid mesoporous carbon-silica nature which is favorable for high dispersion extent of copper and synergistic effect between the carbon substrate and the supported copper species.

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