Enhancement of desulfurization performance of nickel-based adsorbents by hydrogen reduction pretreatment

Nickel based adsorbents are synthesized by ion-exchanging method. The hydrogen reduction method is used as a pretreatment process to improve the adsorptive ability of Nickel based adsorbents. Hydrogen reduction pretreatment can enhance the adsorptive capacities of Ni-adsorbents. Under the optimized sufficient reduction pretreatment, the saturated capacities of Ni–Y and Ni–MAS (Mesoporous Aluminosilicates) are increased by 14.1% and 65.2%, respectively. The adsorptive selectivity of dibenzothiophene (DBT) to toluene is also improved. However, it is found that insufficient reduction pretreatment can inhibit the adsorption performance of Ni–Y, which is different from Ni–MAS.

Graphical abstractThe DBT adsorption curves on Ni–Y (A) and Ni–MAS (B).Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights► Nickel based adsorbents were pretreated by hydrogen reduction. ► Sufficient hydrogen reduction pretreatment can enhance the adsorptive abilities. ► The adsorptive selectivity of dibenzothiophene (DBT) to toluene was also increased. ► Insufficient reduction pretreatment will inhibit the adsorption of Ni–Y.