Vibrational spectroscopy characterization of impregnated activated carbon adsorption of H₂S

Abstract

Activated carbon filters are used for the removal of hazardous gases from the air. This research applied vibrational spectroscopy methods, including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy to characterize hydrogen sulfide adsorption on impregnated carbon materials with metals having reactivity toward hydrogen sulfide. The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy results demonstrated the formation of a new chemical bond between the impregnating metals and the sulfur, indicated by the appearance of a new band at 618 cm⁻¹. The Raman spectra results showed that for the copper-impregnated activated carbon with the highest hydrogen sulfide adsorption capacity, a new vibrational band at 475 cm⁻¹ evolved, indicating a copper-sulfur bond. In addition, upshifts in the carbon D sub-bands were observed after efficient hydrogen sulfide adsorption, along with a larger area of the approximately 1500 cm⁻¹ band. Therefore, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy combination can potentially indicate H₂S adsorption on impregnated activated carbon filters.

Keywords:

• Hydrogen sulfide
• dynamic breakthrough tests
• FTIR
• Raman spectroscopy
• impregnation

Acknowledgments

This study was performed on behalf of the CBRN Defense Division, Israeli Ministry of Defense.

Data availability

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was fully supported by IIBR.