Sub-Micrometric MCM-41 Particles as Support to Design Efficient and Regenerable Maghemite-Based Sorbent for H2S Removal

Cara, C;Rombi, E;Ardu, A;Vacca, MA;Cannas, C

2019-01-01

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Abstract

In this work, highly dispersed maghemite (gamma-Fe2O3) in form of ultrasmall nanoparticles (about 2 nm) was embedded into a mesostructured silica MCM-41 (about 600 nm) featuring regular sub-micrometric hexagonal shaped particles via the two-solvent incipient wetness impregnation strategy. The obtained nanocomposite was then tested as H2S sorbent in the mid-temperature range. When compared with a commercial sorbent (Katalko(JM) 32-5), it showed superior performances after the first sulfidation which remained steady over three repeated sulfidation cycles, highlighting the regenerability properties of the composite. In order to evaluate the effect of the length of the pore channels on the accessibility of H2S to the active phase, an analogous micrometric gamma-Fe2O3 @MCM-41, featuring micrometric channels and particles of irregular shape was used as reference.