Walnut wood-derived hierarchically 3D self-assembly of (a%Ce–Mn)yAl2−yOx and rapid diffusion character of straight micron channel during hot coal gas desulfurization

Abstract Refined design of sustainable sorbent demands to tackle the strong dependence for additional mesoporous support and low utilization in hot coal gas desulfurization. Unlike the well−established preparation of loading sorbents supported on zeolites, a vacuum−assisted self−assemble strategy tapping into the ordered channels of walnut wood is proposed to facilely fabricate three−dimensional (3D) (a%Ce−Mn)yAl2−yOx desulfurizers with anisotropy which provides a desirable macroporosity for rapid diffusion of H2S. Benefiting from the inherent straight channle in micron scale, the obtained (8%Ce−Mn)1.5Al0.5Ox presents the highest breakthrough sulfur capacity (289.79 mg g−1) and effective utilization (88.42%) at 700 oC. The favorable rapid diffusion of gases in micro/macropores improves greatly the H2O−resistance and anti−interference ability of 3D (8%Ce−Mn)1.5Al0.5Ox for high steam and concentration of reducing gas. The fast mass transport in sulfidation reaction at 700 oC is described perfectly by the improved deactivation kinetics model. This study opens a novel design of the ideal 3D desulfurizers with micron porosity inherited from hierarchical architecture of walnut wood for industrialization utilization in the near future.