This study is being performed as part of a graduate thesisproject at the University of Northern British Columbia. We areattempting to develop an alternative method for removing sulfurcompounds from the fluid catalytically cracked stream ofgasoline (FCC gasoline). Canada recently developed newregulations for the amount of total sulfur in fuel, as of January1st, 2005, thereby limiting the total sulfur to 30 ppmw. Thispaper reports on our work to date using a Raney-nickel typecatalyst for the removal of sulfur-containing compounds fromFCC gasoline. We will report on the successful results we haveachieved to date including experiments where temperature andreaction time were varied. Raney-type nickel is activated withan alkaline solution, then reacted with the FCC gasoline toform a nickel sulfide precipitate. Our most promising resultsindicate a 60% drop in total sulfur concentration in the treatedFCC gasoline. This reaction occurs at ambient temperatures and pressures and is currently being performed on a laboratoryscale. The samples are analyzed using UV FluorescenceSpectroscopy in order to determine total sulfur content.
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