A Study of the Zn-based Desulfurization Sorbents for H2S Removal in the IGCC

Abstract

The various Zn-based sorbents were prepared by physical mixing method and co-precipitation method. The sulfur removing capacity and regeneration properties of the various sorbents were measured in fixed bed reactor at middle temperature condition (sulfidation process 480 °C, regeneration process 580 °C). The sulfur removing capacities of the sorbents were depended on the physical properties such as pore volume, surface area and particle size. The Zn-based sorbents prepared by co-precipitation method were higher pore volume, surface area and smaller particle size resulting in the higher capacities than those prepared by the physical mixing method. To improve the regeneration properties of the sorbents, the various promoters such as cobalt, iron, nickel and cerium were added to the sorbents. The promoters have various roles with the kind of promoter. The roles of promoters could be explained by heat effect and catalytic effect of the promoters. Also, the alloyed structure like spinel structure (ZnTi2O4) has been proposed to explain the superior regeneration properties compared to the single ZnO structure. In addition, the simultaneous removals of the H2S and NH3 over the Zn–Al-based sorbents were tested at 650 °C. So, the new process for simultaneous removal using the developed Zn-based sorbents could be proposed. The role of promoters, effect of hydrogen potential pressure and the deactivation mechanism including the sulfidation of metal oxide to metal sulfide were also discussed.