Ultra-deep desulfurization by reactive adsorption desulfurization on copper-based catalysts

In this paper, a novel copper-based catalyst for FCC gasoline improving the ability of removal the sulfur and avoiding the loss of the octane number from olefin saturation by reactive adsorption desulfurization (RADS) was investigated. The series of Cu/ZnO-Al2O3 catalysts were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption analysis and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) studies, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The experiment results showed that the catalysts had an optimum desulfurization ability with copper loading 6 wt%, which the sulfur contents of product decreased less than 10 µg/g and olefin contents decreased from 16.19% to 14.14% for the long period operation. The appropriate Cu loading content could lead to the high active and low apparent activation energy (Ea). Therefore, the Cu-based catalyst may become a novel catalyst for second-generation for reactive adsorption desulfurization, which achieves the high desulfurization active and low olefins saturation to satisfy the upgrading the product.