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International Journal of Informative & Futuristic Research ISSN: 2347-1697
Desulphurization Of Diesel By
Coconut Shell Activated Carbon
Chemical
Paper ID IJIFR/V4/ E7/ 087 Page No. 6892-6897 Subject Area
Engineering
Desulphurization, Coconut Shell, Activated Carbon, Adsorption, Batch
Key Words
Operation

Assistant Professor
Department of Chemical Engineering ,
1st Pratibha R. Gawande
Datta Meghe College of Engineering ,
Airoli, Navi Mumbai-Maharashtra (India)
Principal
2nd Dr. Jayant P. Kaware Bhonsla College of Engineering & Research,
Akola, Maharashtra (India)

Abstract
Desulfurization diesel oil has been carried out in present research paper by
selective adsorption using coconut shell activated carbon having high
adsorptive capacity. Coconut shell is easily available and cheap raw
material. Batch operation was carried out at room temperature for
adsorption.Coconut shell carbon was activated by H2SO4 with thermally
activated. Batch adsorption experiments were carried for sulphur removal
using varied contact time, adsorbent dose, sulphur concentration and
adsorbent size.

I. INTRODUCTION
Mohammed K et.al were carried out adsorption experiments for the removal of sulfur
compounds from Tawke diesel fuel by using granular Na-Y type zeolite, MOR type zeolite,
molecular sieve 3A type, local clay and activated charcoal. They were investigated that the
desulfurization by activated charcoal was more efficient than by the clay, zeolite type and
almost reach more than 20% [1]. Dr. Neran K. Ibrahim and Samar K. Aljanabi were
studied desulphurization and kinetic studies of diesel fuel by batch adsorption on activated
carbon .They were found that the residual sulfur concentration in diesel fuel was decreased
from 580 to 247 ppm. Investigators were investigated that highest desulfurization efficiency
obtained was 57% at the best operating conditions of 2.5h, 50°C, 2ml/gm D/AC, 0.8mm AC
particle size, and 1000 rpm [2]. G. Daware et.al desulphurization of diesel by using low cost

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Copyright©IJIFR 2017
 ISSN: 2347-1697
International Journal of Informative & Futuristic Research (IJIFR)
Volume - 4, Issue -7, March 2017
Continuous 43rd Edition, Page No.: 6892-6897

adsorbent. Authors were carried out adsorption experiments for removal of sulphur from
diesel using neem leaves. They were observed that the desulphurization of diesel oil by
adsorption process using neem leaves sulphur get reduced by more than half of the original
amount of sulphur. Investigators were use contact time of 3.5hrs and dose of neem leaves
powder of 2gm in 10ml of diesel .obtained. They were showed that maximum removal of
sulphur is 65% [3].A. Khodadadi et.al Adsorptive desulfurization of diesel fuel with nano
copper oxide. Authors were carried out adsorption experiments for desulphurization by
using nano copper oxide as an adsorbent. Investigators were carried out experiments at at
35oC temperature to test the effect of temperature and agitating rate and CuO nano particle
concentration [4]. Adsorption Process of Sulfur Removal from Diesel Oil Using Sorbent
Materials was carried out by Isam Al Zubaidi. They were carried out Adsorption-
desulfurization process of diesel fuel by using carbonized date palm kernel powder without
any activation process. Investigators were investigated that there was reduction in sulphur
content from 410 ppm to 251 ppm using 5% adsorbent material andcan be further further
reduced a up to 184.6 ppm using 10% sorbent material[5].

II. MATERIAL AND METHOD

1. Material
The diesel fuel was used which from local petrol station. The initial sulfur content
was determined using UV 159 Spectrophotometer and was found to be 334.5 ppm.
Desulphurization of diesel fuel was carried out using coconut shell activated carbon.
Coconut shell were collected and washed with fresh water and allowed to tray
drying. Then dried coconut shell was burned at room temperature. Then grinded and
sieved (particle size3.35 mm to 0.35 mm)
2. Activation of adsorbent
Activation of the coconut shell activated carbon was conducted to increase the
surface area of adsorbent for better adsorption. Activation of activated carbon was
done by using activating agent H2SO4 with thermally activated. For activated
charcoal respective amount of coconut shell carbon was soaked in 5 N H2SO4 for 12-
18 hours to become activated carbon. Then carbon was washed with distilled water
and spread on tray at room temperature to be drained after draining dried in oven at
temperature 110 oc for 3 hours and packed respective amount of activated carbon in
airtight plastic for further processing. For thermal activation coconut shell carbon
was kept in oven at 800 0c for 3 hours. After cooling activated carbon was packed in
airtight container.
3. Batch adsorption using activated carbon (activated by H2SO4.)
50 ml of the diesel sample was taken in the Erlenmeyer flask and 10 gm of adsorbent
having particle size3.35 mm to 0.35 mm.was added to it. And stirred with the help of
a magnetic stirrer for about four hour at room temperature. After each time interval
of 10 min the mixture was given a rest of 2 min and then filtered through Watt man

Pratibha R. Gawande & Dr. Jayant P. Kaware :: Desulphurization

Of Diesel By Coconut Shell Activated Carbon
6893
 ISSN: 2347-1697
International Journal of Informative & Futuristic Research (IJIFR)
Volume - 4, Issue -7, March 2017
Continuous 43rd Edition, Page No.: 6892-6897

No. 42 filter paper. The filtrate was reserved for sulfur analysis and the charged
adsorbent was kept for further examination.
4. Analysis of Sulphur
Sulphur analysis was carried using standard test method. The total sulphur
concentrations in the standard samples and desulphurised diesel was carried out
using UV-visible 159 spectrophotometer.Sulphur calibration curve made with the
help of known sulphur solutions in 0-500 ppm sulphur range.The relevant equation
for calculating sulphur content is shown as :
Desulphurization Rate= {(SF – SP)/ SF} ×100
SF: Sulphur content in feed
SP: Sulphur content in the product

II. RESULT AND DISCUSSION

1. Effect of Size of adsorbent particle:
Experiment was performed for study the effect of adsorbent particle size. Adsorbent was
screened and was separated according to particle size 3.35 mm to 0.35 mm. The
desulfurization efficiency was increased as the sorbent particle size was increased from
mesh no 6 to 52. 50 ml diesel sample was treated with 10 gm of adsorbent of each size
(mesh no.6,12, 18, 30, 52) was stirred continuously for 4 hour. Graph was plotted
percentage sulphur removal vs size of adsorbent particle.It was found that sulphur removal
efficiency for particle size (mesh no 12) maximum. Sulphur in original sample reduced upto
120.75 ppm.

70
% Sulphur Removal

60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Absorpent Size

Figure 1: Effect of adsorption size on desulphurization of diesel.

2. Effect of Adsorbent dose

The effect of adsorbent dose was studied at room temperature by varring the sorbent
amounts from 2-10 gms. With an initial concentration 50 ml of diesel sample was treated
with adsorbent dose of 2 gms for 4 hours with constant stirring by magnetic
stirrer.Simillarly the sample was treated with adsorbent dose 4 gms,6 gms,8 gms and 10
gms. As sorbent dose increases there was increase in surface area which increases

Pratibha R. Gawande & Dr. Jayant P. Kaware :: Desulphurization

Of Diesel By Coconut Shell Activated Carbon
6894
 ISSN: 2347-1697
International Journal of Informative & Futuristic Research (IJIFR)
Volume - 4, Issue -7, March 2017
Continuous 43rd Edition, Page No.: 6892-6897

desulfurization efficiency for constant volume of diesel fuel. It was found that
desulphurization effienciency was increases from 23.61% to 63.90 %. Percentage sulphur
removal from the diesel oil was plotted against different adsorbent concentration.

70

60
% Sulphur Removal

50

40

30

20

10

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Absorpent Size

Figure 2: Effect of adsorption concentration On desulphurization of diesel.

3. Effect of contact time:

The effect of contact tie was studied .The 50 ml diesel sample was treated with 10 gm
adsorbent .The sample were stirred for 1 hr .Same procedure were followed for time interval
2,3,4 hours. Plotted graph time vs percentage sulphur removal. It was found that sulphur
remaoval was increases as time increases.The highest sulphur removal efficiency was found
at 4 hour. It was observed that sulphur removal at 4 hour was 63.90 %.

70

60

50
% Sulphur Removal

40

30

20

10

0
0 1 2 3 4 5
Contact Time
Figure 3: Effect contact time on desulphurization of diesel.

Pratibha R. Gawande & Dr. Jayant P. Kaware :: Desulphurization

Of Diesel By Coconut Shell Activated Carbon
6895
 ISSN: 2347-1697
International Journal of Informative & Futuristic Research (IJIFR)
Volume - 4, Issue -7, March 2017
Continuous 43rd Edition, Page No.: 6892-6897

4. Effect of Initial Sulphur Concentration:

An experiment was carried out to study effect of initial concentration on the sulphur
removal. Experiments were carried out by using different different sulphur concentration It
was found that desulfurization efficiency decreases when the initial sulfur concentration in
the diesel fuel increased for constant sorbent dose and constant diesel concentration for 4
hour. Percentage sulphur removal from the diesel oil will be plotted against initial
concentration. It was found that desulphurization effienciency was decreases from 41 % to
4.6 % with increase in sulphur concentration.

45
(1) Conclusion
40

35
% Sulphur Removal

30

25

20

15

10

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
% sulphur Concentration(ppm)

Figure 4: Effect of sulphur concentration on desulphurization of diesel.

III. CONCLUSION
Thus activated carbon prepared from low cost coconut shell and activated by different
activating agents. Activated carbon activated by sulphuric acid is found to be best among
remaining which gives good surface area and high adsorption capacity. Experiments were
carried out using different adsorbent size, contact time, sulphur concentration and conc of
adsorbent.Sulphur removal efficiency was studied for every experiment .It was concluded
that Mesh no 12 size particles gives good sulphur removal efficiency at 4 hr by using
adsorbent dose of 10 gm. Desulphurization of diesel by adsorption using sulphuric acid
activated carbon gives reduction in sulphur more than 50% of that original sulphur content.

IV. REFERENCES
[1] Mohammed K. Younis1, Sherwan Mohammed Simo“ Desulphurization of Tawke Diesel Fuel
by Adsorption on Na-Y Type Zeolite, Local Clay and Active Carbon” International Research
Journal of Pure & Applied Chemistry, .pp1-7. Sept 2015.

Pratibha R. Gawande & Dr. Jayant P. Kaware :: Desulphurization

Of Diesel By Coconut Shell Activated Carbon
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 ISSN: 2347-1697
International Journal of Informative & Futuristic Research (IJIFR)
Volume - 4, Issue -7, March 2017
Continuous 43rd Edition, Page No.: 6892-6897

[2] Dr. Neran K. Ibrahim, Samar K. Aljanabi, “Desulfurization and Kinetic Study of Diesel Fuel by
Batch Adsorption on Activated Carbon”, Eng. &Tech.Journal, Vol. 33, ,pp 1901-1916,2015.
[3] Gaurav. B. Daware, Akshay B. Kulkarni,Arti.A.Rajput, “Desulphurization of diesel by using
low cost adsorbent” International Journal of Innovative and Emerging Research in Engineering
Volume 2, Issue 6, pp 69-73,2015 .
[4] A. Khodadadi , M. Torabi angajia, A. Talebizadeh fsanjani ,A. Yonesib,“ Adsorptive
desulfurization of diesel fuel with nano copper oxide(CuO) ” Proceedings of the 4th
International Conference on Nanostructures ,PP 1197-1199, 12-14 March, 2012
[5] Isam A. H. Al Zubaidy, Fatma Bin Tarsh, Noora Naif Darwish, Balsam Sweidan Sana Abdul
Majeed, Aysha Al Sharafi, and Lamis Abu Chacra,“ Adsorption Process of Sulfur Removal
from diesel oil using sorbent materials”, Journal of Clean Energy Technologies, Vol. 1, January
2013.
[6] Adeyi, Abel Adekanmi and Aberuagba, Folorunsho, “Comparative analysis of adsorptive
desulphurization of crude oil by manganese dioxide and zinc oxide”, Research Journal of
Chemical Sciences 2(8), pp 14-20, August 2012.
AUTHOR’S BIOGRAPHY

Mrs. Pratibha R. Gawande has completed her Masters in

Chemical Engineering and Membrane separation and
technology.She is working as Assistant Professor in Chemical
Engineering Department of Datta Meghe College Of Engineering,
Navi Mumbai having 12 years teaching experience Her area of
interest includes membrane separation and technology and
Adsorption

Dr. Jayant Prabhakarrao Kaware, Chemical Engineer, pursued

his education from Laxminarayan Institute of Technology,
Rashtra Sant Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur University. He was
working for Shri Shivaji Education Society’s College of
Engineering & Technology since 1987. He was Professor-
incharge for the Biodiesel Research Laboratory associated with
the department of chemical engineering. He wa Member of
Board of Studies for Chemical & Polymer Technology at Sant
Gadge Baba Amravati University since 2000 and Chairman from
2008 till 2012. He is a Member of Academic Council since 2005
in the University. He was a Member of Management Council of
Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University till August, 2011. He is working in the various universities as
Member of Research Recognition Committee, Board of University Teaching & Research since 2006.
He has published more than 36 research papers. He is working on various policy making government
bodies related to biodiesel.

TO CITE THIS PAPER

Gawande, R.P. , Kaware, P.J. (2017) :: “Desulphurization Of Diesel By Coconut Shell
Activated Carbon” International Journal of Informative & Futuristic Research (ISSN:
2347-1697), Vol. 4 No. (7), March 2017, pp. 6892-6897, Paper ID: IJIFR/V4/E7/087.

Pratibha R. Gawande & Dr. Jayant P. Kaware :: Desulphurization

Of Diesel By Coconut Shell Activated Carbon
6897