Fabrication of coral-like Mn2O3/Fe2O3 nanocomposite for room temperature removal of hydrogen sulfide

Abstract In this study, coral-like Mn2O3/Fe2O3 nanocomposite was synthesized by a surfactant-mediated co-precipitation method. The XRD patterns confirmed the formation of a nanocomposite of Mn2O3/Fe2O3 with no trace of MnFe2O4. The surface area of the nanocomposite was 6.18 m2 g−1. The metal oxide adsorbents were studied for the adsorptive removal of H2S gas at ambient conditions. The Mn2O3/Fe2O3 nanocomposite showed the highest adsorption capacity of 11.97 mg g−1 for 0.75 g of adsorbent and 0.2 L min−1 of H2S flowrate. The XPS analysis confirmed the presence of sulfur majorly in the form of sulfate ions with elemental sulfur and sulfide ions as minor contributors. The XRD pattern showed complete disappearance of Mn2O3 with the evolution of new peaks for two spinel phases with possible S2− doping. The study confirmed that the transition metal oxide nanocomposite could be used for removal of H2S at room temperature.