Surface Modification of a Polyester-Augmented Cellulose Filter for Dehydration of Low-Sulfur Diesel

Fuel filters play an essential role in protecting the injection equipment and fuel tanks against corrosion and damage of diesel engines. Diesel fuel separators are typically made of treated cellulose, fiberglass, or mixed fibrous media (composites), modified with various chemicals to obtain a hydrophobic surface. In the presented research, a modification procedure of polyester fibers supported on cellulose using octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) has been developed. The OTS coating renders the filter media superhydrophobic with water contact angle and roll-off angle of 156.4 and 4.9°, respectively. The performance of the modified material was verified in dispersed water removal from low-sulfur diesel fuel. High efficiency and a reliable operation in test conditions were confirmed.