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

The SO2 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 SO2 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 SO2, especially when H2O 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 SO2 oxidation process.