Sorbent development for continuous regenerative H2S removal in a rotating monolith reactor

A high capacity and regenerable manganese based sorbent for desulfurization of hot dry fuel gas from coal gasification has been developed. Pure gamma-Al2O3 and washcoated cordierite monoliths impregnated with manganese acetate and calcined at 973 K resulted in highly dispersed Mn3O4 On gamma-Al2O3. MnS was formed during sulfidation and MnAl2O4 during subsequent regeneration with steam. The optimal operation temperature was found to be between 1123 and 1223 K. The maximum capacity of the acceptor was 17 mass% sulfur which was obtained for a 32 mass% manganese loading. A deactivation test of 65 subsequent sulfidation and regeneration cycles showed minor deactivation during the first cycles followed by a stable performance. This sorbent will be used in a rotating monolith reactor in which absorption and regeneration takes place simultaneously in separate sections, which enables a continuous operation.