A new strategy for hydrogen sulfide removal by amido-functionalized reduced graphene oxide as a novel metal-free and highly efficient nanoadsorbent

Abstract

In this research, hydrogen sulfide is adsorbed on amido-functionalized reduced graphene oxide (AFRGO) as a nanoadsorbent. By the use of n-propylamine and allylamine, reduced graphene oxide (RGO) was amidated for the adsorption of hydrogen sulfide. The materials were characterized by adsorption of H2S, potentiometric titration, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The effect of the operational conditions of 4000–6000 h−1 space velocities and 60,000 ppm H2S feed concentrations were examined on adsorption capacity. The results show that H2S feed concentration, space velocity, and functional groups of adsorbents have a major effect on H2S adsorption. It was also found that the temperature in the range of 30–70°C had a significant effect on H2S adsorption. The concentration of H2S adsorbed in 3 h by AFRGO containing allyl substituent, AFRGO containing propyl substituent, graphene oxide (GO), and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) were reported as 59,710, 59,650, 59,600, and 59,500 ppm, respectively. Hydrogen sulfide adsorption analysis showed that nanoadsorbents increase adsorption capacity of H2S.