Adsorptive desulfurization of DBT/n-decane using UiO-66-functionalized silica and γ-alumina porous ceramic membranes

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising sulfur adsorbents, but fine powders are hard to recover and handle continuously. Here, UiO-66 was incorporated into silica- and γ-alumina-based PVA-bound ceramic-composite membranes at nominal loadings of 1, 3, and 5 wt% and evaluated for dibenzothiophene (DBT) removal from n-decane. The 3 wt% formulations maximized both adsorption capacity and sulfur rejection within the tested range and were therefore selected for the subsequent operating-parameter studies. Detailed characterization of the silica blank (S-0), alumina blank (A-0), UiO-66@silica (S-3), and UiO-66@alumina (A-3) by XRD, FTIR, SEM, N₂ physisorption, TGA, and ICP-OES confirmed 2.98/2.91 wt% UiO-66 loading. BET surface area increased from 300 → 324 m² g^-1 (silica) and 199 → 226 m² g^-1 (alumina), with type IV mesoporosity retained alongside added UiO-66 microporosity. In recirculating cross-flow tests at 25 °C, S-3 performed best, reaching 25.0 mg S per g uptake, 62.5% DBT rejection, and 157.5 L m^-2 h^-1 flux at 120 min while retaining 88% capacity after five methanol-regeneration cycles. UiO-66-functionalized ceramic-composite membranes are thus promising, reusable materials for adsorptive desulfurization.