Hydrogen sulfide removal by iron containing activated carbon

Activated carbon modified by impregnation with iron (III) chloride solution (Fe‐ACs) were studied to try to raise their adsorption capacity for hydrogen sulfide, a malodorous substance.

The surface area and pore volume of activated carbon were decreased by impregnation, but the amount of hydrogen sulfide adsorbed onto Fe‐AC was larger than that onto raw activated carbon (R‐AC). In particular, a large increase of the amount adsorbed onto Fe‐AC was noted at low equilibrium pressure. It was assumed that the increase of amount of hydrogen sulfide adsorbed onto Fe‐AC was due to the chemical interaction between iron (III) chloride on the pores in addition to the physical adsorption onto pores of activated carbon. Fe‐AC shows a high selectivity for hydrogen sulfide.