A Portable Continuous Desulfurization Unit for Diesel

Speaker:Meng-Wei Wan, PhD Candidate
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Southern CaliforniaAbstractDue to the stringent rules requiring ultra-low sulfur content in diesel fuels, it is necessary to develop alternative methods of desulfurization of fossil fuel derived oil, such as diesel. Current technology is not sufficient to solve this problem. The ultrasound assisted oxidative desulfurization process (UAOD) which combines three complementary techniques: ultrasonication, phase transfer catalysis and transition metal catalyzed oxidation, has accomplished high sulfur removal in a short contact time at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure. For diesel fuels containing various levels of sulfur content, the UAOD process followed by solvent extraction has demonstrated that the sulfur reduction can reach above 95 % removal efficiency or a final sulfur content below 15 ppm in mild conditions.
For large-scale commercial production, this research has successfully developed and operated a continuous desulfurization unit, which consists of a sonoreactor, an RF amplifier, a function generator, a pretreatment tank, and a pipeline system. A single unit only requires about 2` x 4` x 1` space for installation. The results indicate a remarkable 92% removal efficiency for sulfur in marine logistic diesel, even at a treatment rate as high as 25 lb/hour, which is approximately 2 barrels per day. Therefore, the sonoreactor unit demonstrated the feasibility of large-scale operation even in a relatively small installation with low capital investment and maintenance cost. It also ensures the safety considerations by operating with diluted hydrogen peroxide under ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure.

Location: Kaprielian Hall (KAP) - 156

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Evangeline Reyes