Study of sulfur dioxide adsorption on Y zeolite

Sulfur dioxide adsorptive properties of Y zeolite, the structure of which was con- firmed by XRD, were investigated at temperatures within the 25-200 oC range and sulfur di- oxide concentrations between 0.9 to 6 % (vol./vol.). It was found that this sorbent possesses a relatively high adsorption capacity. The Y zeolite did not lose its activity during 20 adsorp- tion-desorption-regeneration cycles. The manner in which sulfur dioxide is adsorbed on Y type zeolite was also investigated by analyzing the sample with and without adsorbed SO2, using IR spectroscopy, as well as total and Lewis acidity measurements. The sulfur dioxide molecule is probably adsorbed by hydrogen bonding to one or two conveniently positioned surface hydroxyl groups.