Chemical transformations of sulfur compounds adsorbed onto activated carbon materials during thermal desorption

Abstract

Four commercial activated carbon materials, including two fiber cloths, were studied as adsorbents for three organosulfurs in terms of adsorption and thermal regeneration, the organosulfurs being ethyl mercaptan, isopropyl mercaptan and tetrahydrothiophene. Their performance is interpreted using their inherent porosity and surface functional groups characteristics. The most porous granular carbon with acidic surface functional groups performed better than the other adsorbents at a high organosulfur concentration. However, at a low concentration the fiber cloths exhibit greater adsorption than granular materials, thereby confirming their potential to desulfurize various gases. Thermal desorption was performed in nitrogen and oxidizing atmosphere, the major role of oxygen in the degradation process of the organosulfurs has been pointed out. Mercaptans are oxidized to their respective sulfide, disulfide, sulfur dioxide, minor carbonyl compounds and elemental sulfur, whereas tetrahydrothiophene by-products are limited to thiophene, sulfur dioxide, elemental sulfur and traces of sulfone compound. Based on the various observed by-products, the oxidative degradation pathways for the three organosulfurs are presented in this study.