Activated Carbons for H2S Capture

The size and dispersion-repulsion forces of the H2S molecule make activated carbon a first-choice adsorbent material. With a wide degree of freedom in the distribution of pores and possibilities for impregnation, the activated carbon can be carefully designed, through synthesis techniques, to meet the particular separation process. In this chapter we describe the main variables to guide the choice or synthesis of an activated carbon suitable for H2S retention. We review the most recent studies of textural characterization and what we have learned about the structure–property relationship in H2S capture. We present the promising molecular simulation technique, still weakly explored for this specific application, detailing how it can be useful. Additionally, we review specific details of dynamic tests to guide the dimensioning of units on an industrial scale.