Mesoporous SBA-15 Supported Iron Oxide: A Potent Catalyst for Hydrogen Sulfide Removal

Abstract

A novel silicate mesoporous material, SBA-15 supported Fe2O3, was synthesized by post-synthesis method via ultrasonic-assisted route. The desulfurization test from a gas mixture containing 0.1 vol% H2S was carried out over SBA-15 supported Fe2O3 in a fixed-bed system at atmospheric pressure and room temperature. The effects of the chemical nature of Fe2O3 and the textural properties of the material on desulfurization capacity were studied. Materials before and after the desulfurization test were characterized using nitrogen adsorption, XRD, TEM, FTIR, XPS, ICP and other standard methods. The characterization results suggest that modification process does not change the two-dimensional hexagonal mesostructure of SBA-15. Iron species disperses inside channels and the outside surface in the crystalline phase of iron oxide. The material with iron content of 31.3 wt% presented highest H2S uptake capacity. Structural properties of the material also play important roles in desulfurization performance besides the catalytic effects of iron oxide. The basic feature of material and enough oxygen supply are benefit for the reaction. SBA-15 supported Fe2O3 can be an effective alternative to capture H2S from gas streams.