Nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube (N-CNT) adsorbents were prepared through the chemical vapor deposition method at 1000 °C by using camphor and urea. The desulfurization of liquid stream by using CNT and N-CNTs was investigated. The effects of various adsorption parameters, including time, temperature, adsorbent loaded mass, and initial concentration of tertiary butyl mercaptan (TBM), on adsorptive desulfurization were studied. N-CNTs were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis (CHN), and N adsorption/desorption. Kinetic studies were carried out, and kinetic data were fitted using a pseudo-second-order model. The adsorption equilibrium data and their isotherm models were in good agreement with the Freundlich model. The sulfur concentration after adsorption was evaluated using a total S analyzer. Finally, this study demonstrated that the incorporation of N into the CNT structure resulted in an adsorption capacity of approximately 63.1 mg/g, which was 45% higher than that of pristine CNT. Density functional theory calculations were also performed to understand the effects of TBM adsorption on the N-CNTs.

氮杂碳纳米管（N-CNT）吸附剂是通过使用樟脑和尿素在1000°C下通过化学气相沉积法制备的。研究了使用CNT和N-CNT对液流进行脱硫的方法。研究了各种吸附参数，包括时间，温度，吸附剂负载量和叔丁基硫醇（TBM）的初始浓度，对吸附脱硫的影响。通过场发射扫描电子显微镜，X射线衍射，傅立叶变换红外光谱，元素分析（CHN）和N吸附/解吸对N-CNT进行表征。进行了动力学研究，并使用伪二级模型拟合了动力学数据。吸附平衡数据及其等温线模型与Freundlich模型非常吻合。使用总硫分析仪评估吸附后的硫浓度。最后，这项研究表明，将N掺入CNT结构后，其吸附量约为63.1 mg / g，比原始CNT的吸附量高出45％。还进行了密度泛函理论计算，以了解TBM吸附对N-CNT的影响。