Dynamic Adsorption Model of H₂S in a Fixed Bed of Copper Impregnated Activated Carbon

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to propose a dynamic adsorption model to simulate removal of H₂S by a fixed-bed packed with copper impregnated activated carbon (IAC). After diffusion into the interior of a pellet, H₂S species either may be physically adsorbed on carbon surface or may react with the copper impregnated on the IAC. The Langmuir equation was employed to describe H₂S physical adsorption isotherms on the pristine AC. The rate of the chemical reaction between H₂S and copper impregnated in the IAC is assumed to be . The simulation results showed that they were comparable with experimental data under various impregnant contents, operating conditions, and lengths of the bed. Furthermore, the change of removal efficiency of H₂S by physical adsorption and by chemical reaction was found to depend on the impregnant concentration.

Keywords:

• adsorption
• fixed bed
• hydrogen sulfide
• impregnated activated carbon

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This work was financially supported by the National Science Council, Taiwan, Republic of China, under contract (NSC 89-2214-E-224-005).

Notes

^a The H₂S chemisorbed by IAC = (IAC_{total capacity} − AC_{total capacity}).

^b The stochiometric ratio = (amount of copper loaded on AC/H₂S chemisorbed by IAC).