Tamara Adžamić

Modeling of the FCC Gasoline Desulfurization Process by Liquid Extraction with Sulfolane

Abstract Extractive desulfurization of fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) gasoline with sulfolane was studied in a batch apparatus. The influence of three inlet parameters (temperature, inlet sulfur content, and solvent ratio) on the process response, that is, desulfurization efficiency, was investigated with the use of a Box-Behnken experimental design by response surface methodology. A mathematical model that can be used for predicting sulfur content in raffinate after extractive batch processing with sulfolane was statistically developed and proven with analysis of variance. Statistical analysis showed that the largest influence on desulfurization efficiency was solvent ratio, the second most significant influence was inlet sulfur content, followed by temperature, and last the interaction between solvent ratio and inlet sulfur content. The obtained second-order polynomial model shows that maximum desulfurization efficiency of 65.34% can be achieved at temperature of 50°C and higher values of inlet sulfur content and solver ratio in the researched range of inlet parameter values.

Desulfurization of Diesel Fuel in a Fixed Bed Adsorption Column : Experimental Study and Simulation

Abstract Desulfurization of diesel fuel was investigated in a fixed bed adsorption column using activated carbon as an adsorbent. The experiments were carried out at different feed flow rates, bed depths, and temperatures, and each experiment resulted in at least one sample containing less than 10 mg/kg of sulfur. Experimental data were used to simulate/predict the dimensions of an adsorption column for potential industrial application of adsorptive desulfurization of diesel fuel. The calculation resulted with a height of adsorption column of 17.32 m and an adsorbent load of 93.5 tons. The calculated column height is within the limits for a typical industrial adsorption column.