Screening of catalysts for H2S abatement from biogas to feed molten carbonate fuel cells

Different catalysts vanadium-based supported on mixed oxide (CeO2, TiO2, CuFe2O4) were prepared, characterized and tested for the partial selective oxidation of H2S at low temperature.These catalysts were compared in terms of H2S and O2 conversion, SO2 selectivity and durability in the range of temperature 50–250 °C.Results proved that the most interesting catalysts were V2O5/CeO2 and V2O5/CuFe2O4 that showed very high H2S and O2 conversion (>95%) and respectively a SO2 selectivity of 14% and 20%.Based on the promising results, a deeper study on the V2O5/CeO2 catalyst was performed by investigating the influence of H2S concentrations, space velocity, and the O2/H2S molar feed ratio to order to minimize the SO2 selectivity.Furthermore, on this sample it was performed a kinetic preliminary study to evaluate the kinetics data to the correct design of a catalytic reactor for the biogas clean-up to feed MCFC.

► The vanadium-based catalyst were investigated for the selective partial H2S oxidation.
► The V2O5–CeO2 catalyst has showed better catalytic performance (H2S, O2 conversion and SO2 selectivity) at low temperature.
► A rate expression was developed for H2S oxidation to design a catalytic reactor for the clean-up biogas.