Synergic Adsorption of H2S Using High Surface Area Iron Oxide–Carbon Composites at Room Temperature

• Published in: Energy & fuels Vol. 33; no. 8; pp. 7509 - 7521
• Main Authors: Ling, Kexin, Gangoli, Varun Shenoy, Barron, Andrew R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Chemical Society 15-08-2019
• ISSN: 0887-0624; 1520-5029
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.9b01012

Developing an efficient hydrogen sulfide (H2S) sorbent is of great importance to natural gas industries, biomedical applications, and environmental conservation. Activated carbon, metal oxides, and their composite materials show potential for desulfurization. This work explores the synergic effects in composites of iron oxide (Fe2O3) and oxygenated porous carbon (OPC) for the removal of H2S at room temperature. Two types of Fe2O3-OPC composite samples were prepared: physically mixed (PM) and chemically mixed (CM). The two types of composites were tested for H2S uptake performance at ambient conditions, and a systematic study of the synergic effects of Fe2O3 and OPC was performed. Thorough characterization and analysis were used to reveal detailed structural and compositional properties of these samples. The CM sample with the best uptake capacity was also tested further for the desulfurization rate and the mechanism of action. The PM samples showed a lower H2S uptake capacity within 24 h compared to the theoretical value for the Fe2O3 and OPC working independently, indicating a negative synergic effect. The CM samples reached a maximum uptake capacity higher than the components working independently and importantly an increased rate of H2S uptake, which indicates positive synergy, showing potential in applications where rapid adsorption is required.