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A regenerable oxide-based H2S adsorbent with nanofibrous morphology

Nature Nanotechnology volume 7, pages 810–815 (2012)Cite this article

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Abstract

Hydrogen sulphide is found in raw fuels such as natural gas and coal/biomass-derived syngas. It is poisonous to catalysts and corrosive to metals and therefore needs to be removed. This is often achieved using metal oxides as reactive adsorbents, but metal oxides perform poorly when subjected to repeated cycles of sulphidation and re-oxidation1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12 as a result of complex structural and chemical changes. Here, we show that Zn–Ti–O-based adsorbents with nanofibrous morphology can sustain their initial reactivity and sulphur removal capacity over multiple regeneration cycles. These nanostructured sorbents offer rapid reaction rates that overcome the gas-transport limitations of conventional pellet-based sorbents1,13 and allow all of the material to be used efficiently. Regeneration can be carried out at the same temperature as the sulphidation step because of the higher reactivity, which prevents sorbent deterioration and reduces energy use. The efficient regeneration of the adsorbent is also aided by structural features such as the growth of hierarchical nanostructures and preferential stabilization of a wurtzite phase in the sulphidation product.

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Figure 1: Characterization of fresh unreacted sorbent.
Figure 2: Analysis of reaction kinetics (ZT2).
Figure 3: Analysis of SEM images of reacted sorbent specimens.
Figure 4: Post-sulphidation characterization.

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Acknowledgements

M.B. acknowledges the Dow Chemical Company for a graduate fellowship and thanks Q. Yang for assistance with sample preparation. P.K.J. acknowledges startup support from the Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory where characterization was performed. M.A.S. acknowledges support from the NSF Science and Technology Center WaterCAMPWS.

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Author notes

  1. Mark A. Shannon: Deceased

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 S. Mathews, CLSL-A226, Box 76-6, MC-712, Urbana, 61801, Illinois, USA

    Mayank Behl

  2. Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1206 W. Green Street, Urbana, 61801, Illinois, USA

    Junghoon Yeom

  3. Department of Chemistry, Institute for Combustion Science and Environmental Technology, Western Kentucky University, 1906 College Heights Boulevard, Bowling Green, 42101, Kentucky, USA

    Quentin Lineberry

  4. Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 S. Mathews, CLSL-A224, Box 16-6, Urbana, 61801, Illinois

    Prashant K. Jain

  5. Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2130 MEL MC-244, 1206 W. Green Street, Urbana, 61801, Illinois, USA

    Mark A. Shannon

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  1. Mayank Behl
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Contributions

M.B., J.Y. and M.A.S. developed the concept. M.B., M.A.S. and P.K.J designed the experiments. M.B. and Q.L. carried out the experiments. M.B. and J.Y. performed material characterization. Data analysis was performed by M.B., J.Y. and P.K.J. The manuscript was written by M.B., J.Y., P.K.J. and M.A.S.

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Correspondence to Prashant K. Jain.

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Behl, M., Yeom, J., Lineberry, Q. et al. A regenerable oxide-based H2S adsorbent with nanofibrous morphology. Nature Nanotech 7, 810–815 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2012.194

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