Regenerable sulfur adsorbent for liquid phase JP-8 fuel using gold/silica based materials

Applications requiring hydrogen fuel, including portable, mobile and stationary fuel cells for power generation, are increasing. The conversion of JP-8 to hydrogen offers an energy dense feedstock for hydrogen production through fuel reformation. Unfortunately, organic sulfur compounds in logistical fuels, even at part per million levels, can poison reformer and fuel cell catalysts. In this work, adsorbents based on silica supported gold ions and gold nanoparticles were synthesized and evaluated for the adsorptive desulfurization of JP-8 jet fuel. The adsorbents were evaluated with JP-8 fuel containing 430 ppmw sulfur under ambient conditions. The preparation, as well as the sulfur removal and adsorption characteristics for two adsorbents are described in this work.