High temperature H2S removal over high specific surface area β-SiC supported iron oxide sorbent Part 2 Sulfidation and regeneration

Abstract

Iron oxide sorbent supported on high surface area SiC showed excellent performance for high-temperature H₂S removal. This sorbent removed H₂S directly with formation of water and with no other products observed in the exit gas. The chemical inertness of the SiC support and the weak interaction between the support and the iron oxide phase, led to rapid sulfidation of the sorbent resulting in a high absorption capacity (90–95% cf. the theoretical value). This was not the case for sorbents supported on alumina and other refractory oxides. The sorbent also exhibits high stability in the sulfidation and regeneration cycle. The sorbent surface area decreased after the first sulfidation and regeneration cycle from 49 to 17 g⁻¹ and then remained unchanged for the subsequent cycles, maintaining its high performance and selectivity.