Removal of sulfur from commercial kerosene using nanocrystalline NiFe2O4 based sorbents

This paper deals with the simultaneous removal of sulfur from commercial kerosene at room temperature using sorbents containing NiFe2O4 nanoparticles. The nanocrystalline NiFe2O4 based sorbents were prepared using the combustion route. The effect of fuel content on the surface properties and desulferization activity of Ni/Fe mixed oxide sorbents has been studied. It was observed that incorporation of metal cations (Ni^2+) into the hematite (α-Fe2O3) crystal structure alters the surface properties and desulferization activity of the investigated oxides, which in turn depends on the nature and concentration of the incorporated metal cation and the released heat during the combustion process. The effect of fuel content in modifying the resultant surface area could be directly related to the variations in the rate of crystal growth of the solids studied depending upon preparation temperature. Interestingly, all the prepared ferrites exhibit a narrow pore size distribution in the range of 0.9–2 nm. The capacity of NiFe2O4 to adsorb sulfur from commercial kerosene was evaluated in terms of their textural and chemical characteristics.