Enhanced adsorption performance for aromatic sulfur compounds over a hierarchical structured AgX zeolite

The original NaX zeolite is a promising material for removing organosulfur compounds from fuels. However, its utilization has been challenging owing to its limited adsorption capacity of refractory sulfur compounds. Maintaining the mesoporous structure exposed in hierarchical-NaX is crucial to obtain high desulfurization efficiency. Herein, we synthesize silver supported on hierarchical-X (AgX-CA(3.0)) with abundant mesoporous and adsorption sites to enhance the capacity of adsorption and diffusion of refractory sulfur compounds. The results demonstrate that the adsorbent can be recycled five times without any activity loss, and the framework of the X zeolite is preserved as well. This strategy that introduces mesopores on a hierarchical-NaX to remove organosulfur compounds in the fuel provides a new pathway to limit the emission of sulfur into the atmosphere.