A comprehensive Review on Gasoline Adsorptive Desulfurization Using Activated Carbon

Muthanna Journal of Engineering and Technology

Volume (14), Issue (3), Year (2026), Pages (57-72)

DOI:10.52113/3/eng/mjet/2026-14-03-/57-72

Research Article By:

Fatima K. Hamza , Abbas K. Mohammad  

Corresponding author E-mail: fatima.kadum.humza@qu.edu.iq


ABSTRACT

The need for clean transport fuels in the future prompted a study of advanced desulfurization technologies. Sulfur compounds in gasoline have a negative environmental impact, which contributes to acid rain formation, and from the point of view of human health, they cause respiratory and cardiovascular problems, including poisoning of engines and catalysts. The conventional method of hydrodesulphurization works perfectly, but it is usually carried out at high temperatures, it is not capable of removing refractory sulfur-containing species, thiophenes, and dibenzothiophenes, and it is too expensive. Adsorption desulfurization on activated carbon has emerged as a promising new approach due to its wide surface area, hierarchical porosity, and controllable surface chemistry. In this article, the latest developments in gasoline desulfurization using AC are reviewed with the latest Feed-stocks advances for AC, surface modification methods, and adsorbate interaction mechanisms.  For example, date pits, are one of the source of   activated carbon due to ecological and economic reasons. However, major problems still exist, such as poor adsorption capacity and the lack of regeneration and selectivity in the presence of various inhibitors. Future perspectives are aimed at the development of better adsorbent design, regenerability, and the implementation of AC-based ADS in a large scale.” for AC-based ADS system design and deployment are projected as a feasible pathway to ultra-low-sulfur fuels.

Keywords:

Activated Carbon, Adsorptive Desulfurization (ADS), XRF, Gasoline, Sulfur Compound.

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