Highly effective direct conversion of H2S into COx-free H2 and S at low temperature over novel MoxC@ZrO2 microwave catalysts

Abstract

Direct decomposition of H2S into H2 and S is an attractive alternative to the Claus process, because COx-free H2 and S can be simultaneously recovered from an abundant and toxic waste gas, which has huge social economic and ecological environmental benefits. However, it is still a great challenge to achieve the direct H2S decomposition reaction with high efficiency due to the thermal equilibrium limitation. Herein, a core-shell structured MoxC@ZrO2 was developed as novel microwave catalyst for microwave catalytic H2S decomposition. More specifically, the H2S conversion over MoxC@ZrO2 catalyst is as high as 99.9% at 650 °C, which immensely surpasses the H2S equilibrium conversion (6.1% at 650 °C). This study provides an effective strategy for the design of highly active microwave catalysts, and supplies a strategy for efficiently catalytic decomposition of H2S waste and recovering high-value hydrogen and sulfur at lower reaction temperatures.