Ternary metal oxide nanocomposite for room temperature H2S and SO2 gas removal in wet conditions

Abstract

A ternary Mn–Zn–Fe oxide nanocomposite was fabricated by a one-step coprecipitation method for the remotion of H2S and SO2 gases at room temperature. The nanocomposite has ZnO, MnO2, and ferrites with a surface area of 21.03 m2 g−1. The adsorbent was effective in mineralizing acidic sulfurous gases better in wet conditions. The material exhibited a maximum H2S and SO2 removal capacity of 1.31 and 0.49 mmol g−1, respectively, in the optimized experimental conditions. The spectroscopic analyses confirmed the formation of sulfide, sulfur, and sulfite as the mineralized products of H2S. Additionally, the nanocomposite could convert SO2 to sulfate as the sole oxidation by-product. The oxidation of these toxic gases was driven by the dissolution and dissociation of gas molecules in surface adsorbed water, followed by the redox behaviour of transition metal ions in the presence of molecular oxygen and water. Thus, the study presented a potential nanocomposite adsorbent for deep desulfurization applications.