DYNAMIC ADSORPTION OF S02 ON ZEOLITE MOLECULAR SIEVES†

Abstract

Sulfur dioxide is one of the major pollutants resulting from fuel combustion. Numerous dry, semi-dry and wet processes have been developed for pollution control of sulfur dioxide. Solid carbonates, natural and synthetic zeolites, ion exchange resins and carbon based sorbents are the most commonly used dry sorbents for sulfur dioxide removal In this study, measurements of the adsorption properties of sulfur dioxide on zeolites were investigated. The adsorbents used in this work are 5A, 4A and AW300 type molecular sieve zeolites. Adsorption equilibrium parameters were determined from the pulse chromatographic response to injections of low concentrations of sulfur dioxide. The method of moments were used to evaluate the adsorption equilibrium parameters from pulse chromatographic experiments. Data, such as adsorption equilibrium constants or reaction rate parameters are essential in the design of adsorption systems or reactors in which sulfur dioxide is removed The experiments were conducted in a temperature range of 523-718 K. The relatively strong adsorption properties of sulfur dioxide on zeolites necessitated the use of high carrier gas flow rates and subsequently non-isobaric operation. Non-isobaric pulse chromatography theory was found to describe accurately the adsorption trends." printpubdate="Adsorption equilibrium constants of S02 were found to decrease considerably with increasing temperature. It was also found out that adsorption of SO2 on the adsorbents investigated were found to decrease in the order of AW300 ⩽ 4A ⩽ 5A. The adsorption equilibrium parameter of S02 on 5A was found as 11.78 at 673 K, whereas it has a value of 157.11 at 523 K. The adsorption equilibrium parameter of S02 on 4A zeolite was determined to be 8.63 at 718 K and 213.78 at 523 K.