Catalytic reduction of SO2 with methane over molybdenum catalyst

This paper deals with catalytic reduction of SO2 with methane using molybdenum sulfide catalyst supported on two different activated carbons (Darco TRS and Norit ROZ-3). The experiments evaluated the effects of MoS2 catalyst loading (10%, 15%, and 20% Mo, by weight), gas feed-rate concentration ratios of CH4 to SO2 (CH4:SO2 ratios of 2:1, 1:1, and 1:2) and reaction temperatures (450 degrees C, 500 degrees C, and 600 degrees C). The reactivity of each catalyst was evaluated by three different parameters: (a) SO2 conversion, (b) CH4 conversion and (c) the yield of elemental sulfur. The results show that the catalytic activity of MoS2 supported on activated carbons is strongly related to the reaction temperature and the CH4:SO2 feed ratio, with a secondary dependency on the loading of the MoS2. The 20% MoS2 catalyst supported on Darco TRS in a reactor stream with CH4:SO2 = 1:1 demonstrated the highest activity of all the catalysts tested having an SO2 conversion of 99.8%, At 600 degrees C and with a CH4:SO2 = 1:1, the catalysts with, 20% loading supported on both Dacro TRS and Norit ROZ-3 exhibited comparable SO2 conversion, both above 90%.