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High‐Temperature Sulfur Removal from Biomass‐Derived Synthesis Gas over Bifunctional Molybdenum Catalysts
Author(s) -
König Christian F. J.,
Schuh Patrick,
Schildhauer Tilman J.,
Nachtegaal Maarten
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
chemcatchem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.497
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1867-3899
pISSN - 1867-3880
DOI - 10.1002/cctc.201300185
Subject(s) - flue gas desulfurization , sulfur , catalysis , molybdenum , chemistry , bifunctional , biomass (ecology) , sulfidation , thiophene , syngas , hydrocarbon , inorganic chemistry , hydrodesulfurization , sorbent , bifunctional catalyst , chemical engineering , adsorption , organic chemistry , oceanography , engineering , geology
The removal of sulfur species from the biomass‐derived producer gas after gasification is required to protect downstream catalysts. Finding suitable materials for high‐temperature desulfurization is one of the main challenges for the improvement in the efficiency of catalytic biomass conversion. The biomass‐derived producer gas usually contains not only H 2 S but also organic sulfur species such as thiophene (C 4 H 4 S), which cannot be removed by most sorbent materials. Herein, we explored Al 2 O 3 ‐supported molybdenum catalysts as bifunctional materials for the removal of H 2 S and catalytic conversion of C 4 H 4 S at high temperatures. By using X‐ray absorption spectroscopy under reaction conditions, we show that H 2 S is removed through the sulfidation of MoO 3 . C 4 H 4 S is catalytically converted over MoO 2 to MoS 2 and hydrocarbon species. The subsequent oxidation of MoS 2 to MoO 3 and SO 2 regenerates the material and allows the sequestration of sulfur from the gas stream. Furthermore, the negative effect of steam on sulfur removal is shown to be caused by competitive adsorption with sulfur species. These findings show the possibility of the high‐temperature desulfurization of biomass‐derived gas for catalytic conversion, for instance, to synthetic natural gas.