One-step synthesis of zinc-encapsulated MCM-41 as H2S adsorbent and optimization of adsorption parameters

The nano-sized structure of well-ordered Zn@MCM-41 adsorbent was synthesized through a direct hydrothermal method using CTAB as a structure-directing agent in an ammonia aqueous solution with different amounts of zinc acetylacetonate which were inserted into the structure-directing agent's loop during the synthesis. The XRD, HRTEM, and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms were used to characterize the prepared ZnO functionalized mesoporous silica samples. As a result, the presence of ZnO in highly-ordered MCM-41's pore was proved as well as maintenance of the ordered mesostructure of MCM-41. The materials were possessed with a high specific surface area (1114-509 m2.g-1) and a large pore diameter (4.03-3.27 nm). Based on the obtained results from the adsorption of H2S gas in a lab-made setup, the Znx@MCM-41 showed the superior ability to increase of ZnO amount up to 7 hours as a breakthrough point.