Catalytic Reduction ofSO2 with Methane over Molybdenum Catalyst

Abstract

This paper deals with catalytic reduction of SO 2 with methane using molybdenum sulfide catalyst supported on two different activated carbons (Darco TRS and Norit ROZ-3). The experiments evaluated the effects of MoS 2 catalyst loading (10, 15, and 20% Mo, by weight), gas feed-rate concentration ratios of CH 4 to SO 2 (CH 4 :SO 2 ratios of 2:1, 1:1, and 1:2) and reaction temperatures (450, 500, and 600°C). The reactivity of each catalyst was evaluated by three different parameters: (a) SO 2 conversion, (b) CH 4 conversion and (c) the yield of elemental sulfur. The results show that the catalytic activity of MoS 2 supported on activated carbons is strongly related to the reaction temperature and the CH 4 :SO 2 feed ratio, with a secondary dependency on the loading of the MoS 2 . The 20% MoS 2 catalyst supported on Darco TRS in a reactor stream with CH 4 :SO 2 =1:1 demonstrated the highest activity of all the catalysts tested, having an SO 2 conversion of 99.8%. At 600°C and with a CH 4 :SO 2 =1:1, the catalysts with 20% loading supported on both Dacro TRS and Norit ROZ-3 exhibited comparable SO 2 conversion, both above 90%.