Alkaline-Modified Activated Carbons for Removing Hydrogen Sulfide from Air via Sorption and Catalytic Oxidation: Studying the Effect of Thermal Treatment on the Properties of Materials

Abstract

Modified carbon materials are prepared via the incipient wetness impregnation of activated carbon with a sodium hydroxide solution followed by thermal treatment in air at moderate temperatures (60–200°C). The prepared samples are tested for their capacity to remove hydrogen sulfide from air via catalytic sorption. The effect of the temperature of thermal treatment (activation) on the dynamic H₂S sorption capacity of the modified carbon materials is highlighted. By modifying activated carbons via incipient wetness impregnation with aqueous NaOH, followed by thermal treatment in air at 200°C, it is possible to increase the dynamic sorption capacity of carbon materials for H₂S by a factor of more than 8. The results from this study can be used in developing new materials for removing hydrogen sulfide from air on the basis of commercially available types of activated carbons.