Regenerable CuO/γ-Al2O3-Reduced Graphene Oxide Adsorbent with a High Adsorption Capacity for Dibenzothiophene from Model Diesel Oil

Fabrication of Hollow and Hierarchical CuO Micro-Nano Cubes Wrapped by Reduced Graphene Oxide as a Prospective Anode for SIBs

In this study, hollow and hierarchical CuO micro-nano cubes wrapped by reduced graphene oxide (H-CuO MNCs@rGO) were designed and successfully fabricated via a novel three-step wet-chemical method. Benefiting from its unique hollow and hierarchical micro-nano structures, H-CuO MNCs@rGO exhibited significantly enhanced electrochemical Na+ storage performance when utilized as anode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Specifically, H-CuO MNCs@rGO demonstrated a specific capacity of 380.9 mAh g-1 in the initial reversible cycle and a capacity retention of 218.9 mAh g-1 after 150 cycles at a current density of 300 mA g-1. Furthermore, through the dominant pseudocapacitive behavior, an optimized rate capability of 221.2 mAh g-1 at 800 mA g-1 can be obtained for H-CuO MNCs@rGO. The comprehensive Na+ storage properties of H-CuO MNCs@rGO obviously exceeded those of hollow CuO cubes (H-CuO MNCs) and bulk CuO anodes. Such enhanced Na+ storage performances of H-CuO MNCs@rGO can be attributed to its reasonable hollow and hierarchical micro-nano structures, which provide abundant redox active sites, shorten Na+ migration pathway, buffer volume expansion, and improve electronic/ionic conductivity during sodiation/desodiation process. Our strategy provides a facile and innovative approach for the design of CuO with rational micro-nano structure as a high-performance anode for SIBs, which would also be a guiding way for tailoring transition metal oxides in other scalable and functional applications.

Research advancements in sulfide scavengers for oil and gas sectors

Sulfide species (inorganic and organic sulfides) are well known for their toxicity and corrosiveness. Several industries, including oil and gas, are prone to corrosive damage due to sulfides that necessitate their timely removal using appropriate methods. Employing chemical scavengers is the most suitable method where the scavenger combine with dissolved sulfides in aqueous/hydrocarbon phase and convert them to a nontoxic and less corrosive form that can be easily removed from the stream. Instead of direct chemical scavenger addition, different approaches, including absorption and adsorption methods, are employed in eliminating sulfide species from gas streams in different industrial applications. This review provides a detailed account of various sulfide scavengers used in oil and gas sweetening. Most recent research advancements in this area are highlighted. A brief account of the latest reported works on novel adsorbents for the desulfurization process for refinery fuels is also provided. The review ends with a short discussion on catalytic hydrodesulfurization.

Carbon Nanomaterials for the Adsorptive Desulfurization of Fuels

The increasing demand for cleaner fuels and the recent stringent regulations of commercial fuel specifications have driven the research of alternative methods to upgrade the current industrial desulfurization technology. Adsorptive desulfurization, the removal of refractory sulfur compounds using appropriate selective tailor-made adsorbents, has shown up as a promising alternative in the recent years. Carbon nanomaterials, namely, graphene, graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers, show a significant potential as desulfurization adsorbents. Their surface area and porosity, their ability of easy functionalization, and their suitability to serve as a support of different types of adsorbents have rendered them attractive candidates for this purpose. In this review, after a presentation of the current industrial desulfurization practice and its limitations, the structure and properties of the carbon nanomaterials of interest will be described, followed by a detailed account of their applications in adsorptive desulfurization. The major literature findings and conclusions will be presented and discussed as a road map for future research in the field.