Regeneration of Fe2O3-based high-temperature coal gas desulfurization sorbent in atmosphere with sulfur dioxide

Regeneration of a high-temperature coal gas desulfurization sorbent is a key technology in its industrial applications. A Fe2O3-based high-temperature coal gas desulfurizer was prepared using red mud from steel factory. The influences of regeneration temperature, space velocity and regeneration gas concentration in SO2 atmosphere on regeneration performances of the desulfurization sorbent were tested in a fixed bed reactor. The changes of phase and the composition of the Fe2O3-based high-temperature coal gas desulfurization sorbent before and after regeneration were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray Photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS), and the changes of pore structure were characterized by the mercury intrusion method. The results show that the major products are Fe3O4 and elemental sulfur; the influences of regeneration temperature, space velocity and SO2 concentration in inlet on regeneration performances and the changes of pore structure of the desulfurization sorbent before and after regeneration are visible. The desulfurization sorbent cannot be regenerated at 500°C in SO2 atmosphere. Within the range of 600°C-800°C, the time of regeneration becomes shorter, and the regeneration conversion increases as the temperature rises. The time of regeneration also becomes shorter, and the elemental sulfur content of tail gas increases as the SO2 concentration in inlet is increased. The increase in space velocity enhances the reactive course; the best VSP is 6000 h-1 for regeneration conversion. At 800°C, 20 vol-% SO2 and 6000 h-1, the regeneration conversion can reach nearly to 90%. © 2010 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.