High temperature removal of hydrogen sulfide using an N-150 sorbent

In this study, an N-150 sorbent was used as a high temperature desulfurization sorbent for the removal of hydrogen sulfide from coal gas in a fixed bed reactor. The results indicate that the N-150 sorbent could be used for H2S removal in the tested temperature ranges. Regeneration test also reveals that utilization of the N-150 sorbent maintains up to 85% compared to the fresh sorbent. No significant degeneration occurs on the N-150 sorbent. In addition, various concentrations of H2S, H-2 and CO were also considered in the performance test of the N-150 sorbent. Except for H2S, H-2 and CO act the important roles in the high temperature desulfurization. By increasing the H-2 concentration, the sulfur capacity of the sorbent decreases and an adverse result is observed in the case of increasing CO concentration. This can be explained via water-shift reaction. On the basis of the instrument analysis, X-ray powder diffraction determination and SEM images with EDS spectrum characterization, residual sulfur is found in the regenerated N-150 sorbent and this sulfur species is sulfate which resulted by incomplete regeneration. The sulfate formation and sintering effect are major reasons to cause activity loss in the sulfidation/regeneration cycles. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.