Enhanced Removal of Sulfur from Diesel Fuel using Non-Hydrodesulfurization Technique coupled with Ultrasound Technique

Abstract

Sulfur compounds are one of the most important impurities present in various petroleum fractions that cause serious devastating to earth’s environment. Predictions and scenarios developed by scientists for the removal of sulfur in diesel fuel indicate that situation is volatile. Integrating of Non-Hydrodesulfurization Process with Hydrodesulfurization process can bring benefits to produce ultra-low sulfur diesel fuels. Using the hydrotreated Tatipaka diesel fuel as a feedstock, oxidation process during Non-Hydrodesulfurization process has been studied using Persulfate reagent with ultrasound for effective removal of sulfur. This technique without extraction and adsorption has resulted in 75.6% removal of sulfur. It shows a good synergic effect when extraction and adsorption is integrated with oxidative desulfurization using Persulfate reagent with ultrasound. Under the best operating conditions of temperature around 65^oC and at atmospheric pressure, the sulfur content present in the diesel fuel has been decreased from 766.73 µg/g to 8.29 µg/g which is equivalent to 99.72% removal of sulfur. The diesel fuel obtained from this process has a cetane number of 55 which is 1.05 times better than current Bharat IV Norms.