Catalytic reduction of SO2 over supported transition-metal oxide catalysts with C2H4 as a reducing agent

This work investigates performances of supported transition-metal oxide catalysts for the catalytic reduction of SO₂ with C₂H₄ as a reducing agent. Experimental results indicate that the active species, the support, the feed ratio of C₂H₄/SO₂, and pretreatment are all important factors affecting catalyst activity. Fe₂O₃/γ-Al₂O₃ was found to be the most active catalyst among six γ-Al₂O₃-supported metal oxide catalysts tested. With Fe₂O₃ as the active species, of the supports tested, CeO₂ is the most suitable one. Using this Fe₂O₃/CeO₂ catalyst, we found that the optimal Fe content is 10 wt.%, the optimal feed ratio of C₂H₄/SO₂ is 1:1, and the catalyst presulfidized by H₂+H₂S exhibits a higher performance than those pretreated with H₂ or He. Although the feed concentrations of C₂H₄:SO₂ being 3000:3000 ppm provide a higher conversion of SO₂, the sulfur yield decreases drastically at temperatures above 300 °C. With higher feed concentrations, maximum yield appears at higher temperatures. The C₂H₄ temperature-programmed desorption (C₂H₄-TPD) and SO₂-TPD desorption patterns illustrate that Fe₂O₃/CeO₂ can adsorb and desorb C₂H₄ and SO₂ more easily than can Fe₂O₃/γ-Al₂O₃. Moreover, the SO₂-TPD patterns further show that Fe₂O₃/γ-Al₂O₃ is more seriously inhibited by SO₂. These findings may properly explain why Fe₂O₃/CeO₂ has a higher activity for the reduction of SO₂.