Desulfurization of Jet A-1 and Heating Oil: General Aspects and Experimental Results

Abstract

Different novel technologies have been screened for liquid phase desulfurization, i.e. an extraction with ionic liquids, a fractional distillation, a membrane separation, a selective adsorption and a novel hydro-desulfurization technology (HDS). From lab-scale studies two desulfurization concepts were developed, i.e. a concept for an improved HDS technology and a two-stage concept. Before HDS the liquid fuel is externally saturated with syngas. Related to commercial HDS no gas recycle is necessary. For the second concept a light cut fraction is separated by distillation, while the heavy fraction is led back to the aircraft's tank. The subsequent deep desulfurization is realized by adsorption.