Abstract: NiY zeolites were prepared by liquid phase ion exchange method and the adsorbents were characterized by XRD, TEM, ICP, Nitrogen adsorption and Py-IR. The adsorptive behavior of thiophene (T), 2-methylthiophene(2-MT), 3-methylthiophene(3-MT), tetrahydrothiophene(THT), benzothiophene(BT), dibenzothiophene(DBT), 4-methyldibenzothiophene(4-MDBT) and 4,6-dimethyldiben-zothiophene (4,6-D MDBT) on NiY zeolites were investigated by fixed bed, the latest generation of SCD detectors(GC-SCD) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR). The results show the breakthrough adsorption capacity of different sulfur compounds, and the order is: THT > BT ≈ DBT ≈ 4,6-DMDBT > 4-MDBT > 3-MT ≈ 2-MT > T，which indicates that the steric hindrance of sulfur compounds is not the crucial factor for their adsorptive properties on NiY zeolites. The mechanisms of thiophene and thiophene derivatives interacting with NiY zeolites were different, but the direct S-M interaction is the domain process. Thiophene and thiophene alkyl complex adsorbed on the surface acidity can subsequently undergo the opening of the heterocyclic rings, and the polymer molecules will plug the pore of zeolite, resulting in decreasing of the desulfurization capacity of NiY. Adsorption mechanisms and surface acidity of NiY zeolites are the key factors for the selective adsorption desulfurization.

Key words: liquid phase ion exchanging, NiY zeolite, adsorptive desulfurization, Surface acidity