H2S catalytic oxidation on impregnated activated carbon: Experiment and modelling

A mathematic model of H2S catalytic oxidation on impregnated activated carbon with fouling of catalyst has been developed. Kinetic studies were carried out in a fixed activated carbon bed under atmospheric pressure and low temperature (30–80 °C). The effects of flow rate, H2S inlet concentration, temperature and relativity humidity were analyzed. Experimental results of breakthrough curves were used to obtain kinetic parameters accounted for axial dispersion, external and internal mass-transfer resistances as well as effects of S deposition on inner-face of the catalyst. The model described satisfactorily the experimental breakthrough curves and well explained the performance of oxidation. The exothermic heat of adsorption and activation energy assuming Arrhenius type of temperature dependence of the equilibrium constant was determined to be 44.6 and 29.9 kJ/mol, respectively. ɛp0, α and β were used to quantify the behavior of H2S oxidation at different operating conditions. The effect of relative humidity on ɛp0, α and β is significant in the relative humidity range under study. The mathematic model can be considered as a reliable tool for process design and scale-up of similar system.