Separation of Hydrogen Sulfide from Biogas Using ZnO-CuO Adsorbent Impragnated on Activated Carbon

• Main Author: WAYAN EKA PRAPTA NIM : 13014085, I
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/28199
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Biogas production contributes to a sustainable alternative renewable energy due to easily accessible and economical raw materials. However, biogas contains hydrogen sulfide as a major contaminant. Conversion of hydrogen sulfide to sulfuric acid leads to corrosion, causing a rapid and extensive damage to process equipment. Besides, the gas itself react directly with some metals such as copper, causing premature failure of mechanical equipment. A biogas treatment process for removing hydrogen sulfide has been developed by using adsorbents. The adsorption was carried out using ZnO-CuO impregnated on activated carbon adsorbents which has a large active surface (278 m2/g) and compatible to react at room temperature. <br /> <br /> <br /> In this study, particle size of activated carbon and height of fixed bed column is varied. The adsorbents were prepared from combination of ZnO and CuO with a mole ratio of 1:1 and nominal metal loading (Zn + Cu) 10% wt from activated carbon. Impregnation and calcination were done at 100°C for 3 hours and 250°C for 3 hours. Treatment process were carried using adsorption column with dimension of 2.5 cm in diameter and bed height of 1 cm and 2 cm, under atmospheric pressure in Bandung (0.94 bar) and ambient temperature (25°C). Mass of adsorbents was varied ranging from 3.64 grams to 8.72 grams with different particle size of 4, 8, 14, and 28 mesh. Biogas flow rate is kept constant at 0.1 liter/min. <br /> <br /> <br /> Particle size and bed height have a role in affecting the adsorption. Decreasing the particle size from 4 mesh to 14 mesh, results in the increase of sulphur adsorption capacity to 1.45 times. Doubling the height of bed from 1 cm to 2 cm, result in the decrease of sulphur adsorption capacity to 0.59 times. The most favorable results show that 14 mesh adsorbents with 1 cm heigh of bed could effectively increase of sulphur adsorption until 0.37 mg S/g adsrbent. Adsorbent with 28 mesh in diameter of particle and 2 cm height reduce hydrogen sulfide from 141 ppm to 7.6 ppm in the first 5 minutes. <br />