Sorption of an Acid Rain Precursor from Synthetic Fuels with Wastes of Fruit Peels

Author: 

Spencer Herman

Mentor:

Abel Navarro PhD

Abstract:

Since industrial revolution, organosulfur compounds have posed a concern. This concern has heightened with increasing greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere and has exacerbated the problem of acid rain. This study examines the efficacy of bio-remediation of dibenzothiophene (DBT), by dead biomass such as fruit peels. The peels of orange (OG), pineapple (PN), and lime (LM) were investigated in continuous-flow and batch experiments to determine their adsorbances as a function of initial concentration of DBT, type of adsorbent and adsorbent dosage. DBT adsorption follows the following trend in gasoline: LM (12.3%) > PN (8.8%) > OG (6.9%) with 50mg, 125mg, and 50mg, respectively and in diesel: LM (14.6%) > OG (4.2%) > PN (3.5%) with 50mg, 75mg, and 75mg, respectively. Instrumental analysis suggests a polar-drive mechanism between the interaction of the carboxyl and hydroxyl groups present on the adsorbents and the sulfur oxygen bonds present in the DBT molecule. Additionally, these adsorbents display good thermal and mechanical properties as shown through thermal analysis. This method, as demonstrated in column experiments has potential applications in continuous flow systems for the remediation and treatment of large volumes of fuel. This project makes evident the possibility for the use of sustainable, low cost and readily available fruit peels as a way to remove harmful organosulfur compounds from fuels.