Cycling effects on the methane regeneration kinetics of CuO/γ-Al2O3 sorbent

Due to the excellent adsorption capacity coupled with convenient regeneration characteristics demonstrated by copper oxide impregnated γ-Al2O3 spheres this process has the potential of being more effective, feasible and widely accepted over the lime and limestone scrubbing in the removal of SO2. Thermogravimetric tests concerning the copper oxide on γ-Al2O3 (both fresh and spent) sorbent regeneration kinetics by methane were performed. Commercially available (SELEXSORB™) 1/8 in. diameter γ-Al2O3 spheres loaded with 5.8 wt.% of Cu were used for these studies. The regeneration experiment temperatures were: 700, 727 and 750 K, while a 20 cm3/min flow of pure methane was applied. To determine the reaction mechanism and its kinetic parameters evaluation, the TGA data were subjected to a rigorous series of theoretically developed models of topochemical reaction kinetics. Hancock and Sharp's tabulations were used to establish the reaction mechanisms and their rate constants evaluation. The various diffusion kinetic equations found themselves useful for the description of the reaction time-courses in the final stage of each experiment.