(228c) Development of New Generation of Agile Desulfurizers

The presence of sulfur in logistic fuels including diesel, coal and jet fuels poses a challenge in their reforming, as it leads to severe deactivating and poisoning of the catalysts. Desulfurization is an important and integral component of generating and providing clean power from these fuel sources that are abundant. Their utilization in high efficiency fuel cell mode necessitates that the sulfur level in the reformate stream be extremely low; the SOFC anodes are quickly poisoned by sulfur even in trace levels (~ 1-2 ppm). Thus, development of effective desulfurizers is important to facilitate efficient utilization of these fuels. Recently, we have developed a series of agile sulfur sorbents with metal oxide(s) dispersed on lightweight, highly ordered nanoporous biomimetic or zeolitic supports. These sorbents have been tested in a range of temperatures for durations ranging from 4 to 24 hours in sulfur-bearing gas streams. Their systematic characterization, prior and subsequent to the sulfidation reaction by SEM/EDS and XRD and quantification by gas chromatography and chemical analyses to gauge their efficacy to the desulfurization of fuel streams will be presented.