Operando XAS and Raman study on the structure of a supported vanadium oxide catalyst during the oxidation of H2S to sulphur

The modification of crystalline phases of a vanadium oxide supported on mesoporous zirconium phosphate during the partial oxidation of H2S to sulphur has been studied by using an operando Raman-GC approach and XAS in reaction conditions. The catalyst, mainly presenting crystalline V2O5, is transformed during the oxidation of H2S at 200 °C, presenting crystals of V4O9, which is identified by the presence of a band at ca. 900 cm−1 in the Raman spectra (using a 785 nm line of an Argon ion laser) and by the presence of a pre-edge at 5469.8 eV (and a main-edge at 5482.2 eV) in XANES spectra. At the same time, it is observed a high conversion of H2S to sulphur (the main reaction product) and SO2 (as minority). Both activity and selectivity depend on the time on stream. In this way, the selectivity to SO2 decreases from ca. 5 to 1% with the time on stream. This change could be explained on the basis of the nature of V-species: the initial presence of V5+–O–V5+ pairs and the appearance of V5+–O–V4+ pairs at high time on stream.