Cu-MOF derivative-modified porous biochar composites for enhanced adsorption desulfurization

In this study, activated biochar (ABC) sourced from solid biowaste was prepared using wheat straw as the carbon source. The ABC was then used as a carrier for the in-situ growth of Cu-MOF-74, which was subsequently pyrolyzed at high temperatures to prepare Cu-MOF derivative-modified porous biochar composites Cu/ABC-T (T = 700–1000 °C) with a uniform distribution of Cu species on the biochar surface. The effect of pyrolysis temperature on the as-prepared Cu/ABC was investigated. The experimental results showed that Cu/ABC-900 exhibited the optimal adsorption performance for DBT, confirming that the uniform distribution of Cu on the biomass carbon surface after high-temperature pyrolysis effectively enhanced the desulfurization performance. Specifically, the as-prepared Cu/ABC-900 achieved an adsorption efficiency of nearly 90 % for 1000 ppm DBT, with an adsorption equilibrium time of only 5 min and a maximum adsorption capacity of 19.70 mg S·g −1 . The adsorption process of DBT by Cu/ABC followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir adsorption model. The adsorption performance of Cu/ABC-900 for different sulfides followed the order: DBT > BT > TH. Furthermore, the adsorption efficiency of Cu/ABC-900 for DBT did not exhibit any significant decline after five regeneration cycles, indicating the excellent regenerability and great potential for practical applications. This work provides a new approach to utilizing carbon-based adsorbents for deep desulfurization, which is beneficial for cost-effective fuel cleaning.