Insights into the remediation characterization of modified bentonite in minimizing organosulphur compounds from diesel fuel

Abstract

In this work, physical and chemical characteristics of the raw, treated, and acid activated bentonite were investigated using XRD, FTIR, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and differential thermal analysis (DTA)/thermogravimetry (TG) analysis and surface area and porosity determination techniques. The organosulphur compounds (ORS) uptake was slightly affected by the particle size indicating that the removal of ORS mainly occurred on the external surface of the modified bentonite samples. The acid activation process enhanced the adsorptive efficiency of the bentonite sample through increasing both the surface area and the pore volume, in addition to the release of a considerable amount of interlayer cations of the clay.