NOVEL SUPPORTED SORBENT FOR HOT GAS DESULFURIZATION

A sorbent which has been prepared by supporting copper oxide and manganese oxide on a silica-rich zeolite was developed for the removal of hydrogen sulfide from coal gas at high temperatures (around 850-degrees-C). The sorbent is regenerable and more durable for fluidized-bed and moving-bed reactors. The sorbent has been shown through sulfidation and regeneration experiments to be capable of reducing the hydrogen sulfide level in coal gas from 2000 to 200 ppmv for about 60-70 min before breakthrough point. Regeneration of the sorbent with a 50 mol % air-50 mol % steam mixture is preferred over air regeneration, due to decreased sulfate formation in the presence of steam. The metal coating on the zeolite extrudates, especially the Mn, appears to promote increased resistance to crushing.