Search / Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering
Korean Chemical Engineering Research,
Vol.61, No.2, 226-233, 2023
Improved Kerosene Quality with the Use of a Gamma Alumina Nanoparticles Supported Zinc Oxide Catalyst in a Digital Batch Baffled Reactor: Experiments and Process Modelling
To create an environmentally sustainable fuel with a low sulfur concentration, requires alternative sulfur removal methods. During the course of this study, a high surface gamma alumina-supported ZnO nanocatalyst with a ZnO/-Al2O3 ratio of 12% was developed and tested for its ability to improve the activity of the oxidative desulfurization (ODS) process for the desulfurization of kerosene fuel. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Brunauer-EmmettTeller (BET) were used to characterize the produced nanocatalyst. In a digital batch baffled reactor (20~80 min), the effectiveness of the synthesized nanocatalyst was tested at different initial concentrations of dibenzothiophene (DBT) of 300~600 ppm, oxidation temperatures (25~70 ℃), and oxidation periods (0.5, 1, and 2 hours). The baffles included in the digital baffled batch reactor resist the swirling of the reaction mixture, thus facilitating mixing. The ODS procedure yielded the maximum DBT conversion (95.5%) at 70 ℃ with an 80-minute reaction time and an initial DBT level of 600 ppm. The most precise values of kinetic variables were subsequently determined using a mathematical modelling procedure for the ODS procedure. The average absolute error of the simulation findings was less than 5%, demonstrating a good degree of agreement with the experimental results acquired from all runs. The optimization of the operating conditions revealed that 99.1% of the DBT can be removed in 140 minutes.