The effect of certain metallic derivatives on the adsorption of sulphur dioxide on active carbon

Abstract The SO 2 adsorption characteristics of low ash active carbons are strongly influenced by the presence of certain transition metal derivatives and by the composition of the gaseous sorption mixture; in particular, the effect of oxygen and water vapour is very important. In the SO 2 sorption–desorption cycles on these supported carbons (simulating their application in a real desulphurisation process) the decrease of sorption activity of the carbon matrix appears to be strongly reduced in the presence of SO 2 , especially when H 2 O is also present. Moreover, the presence of vanadium and iron particularly enhances this effect. This is probably related to the catalytic activity of these elements in the SO 2 oxidation process.