Adsorptive Desulfurization of Diesel for Fuel Cell Applications: A Screening Test

Abstract

: During the past decades much attention has been paid to the desulfurization of diesel oil which is important as a source for the fuel cells to prevent the sulfur poisoning of both diesel steam reforming catalyst and electrode of fuel cell. Although alternative desulfurization techniques have been investigated, desulfurization for ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) is still challenged. Therefore, this research focuses on the desulfurization of commercial ULSD for the application to molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC). Herein, the performances of several kinds of commercial adsorbents based on activated carbons, zeolites, and metal oxides for desulfurization of ULSD were screened. The results showed that metal oxides based materials can feasibly reduce sulfur concentration in ULSD to a level of 0.1 ppmw while activated carbons and zeolites did not reach this level at current conditions.