Low-temperature H2S removal from gas streams with SBA-15 supported ZnO nanoparticles

Mesoporous silica SBA-15 with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles was prepared via incipient wetness impregnation and ultrasonic method, followed by in situ activation at 523 K. The mesoporous materials obtained were characterized by ICP, XRD, FTIR, nitrogen adsorption, TEM and XPS. The prepared materials showed a superior ability to remove H2S down to parts per billion (ppb) from gas stream at lower temperature (298 K), and the highest H2S breakthrough capacity, 436 mg S/g adsorbent, was observed for SBA-15 with 3.04 wt% zinc loading. The enhancement of H2S removal capacity was attributed to the integration of the high surface area of the mesoporous material and the promising desulphurization properties of ZnO nanoparticles. It was believed that ZnO-modified SBA-15 is a promising adsorbent for H2S cleaning at ambient conditions, which will extend the application of the mesoporous materials to the environmental protection area.