SO2 abatement over nanocrystalline MgAl2O4 spinel-supported catalysts

Thermally stable magnesium-rich MgAl2O4 spinel with mesoporous nanostructures and high surface area has been prepared by co-precipitation and post hydrothermal treatment, using glucose as organic template. Physical and chemical properties were characterized by XRD, N2 sorption, TG, FTIR, SEM, and TEM. The synthesized MgAl2O4 showed a surface area of 324 m2 g−1 and centralized mesopore distribution (ca. 3.3 nm pore width) after calcination at 700 °C for 3 h. The prepared MgAl2O4 were impregnated with metal oxides as sulfur transfer catalysts for high-temperature SO2 adsorption reaction. The results showed that ferric doped MgAl2O4 had the highest SO2 pick-up capacity up to 58 % and best regeneration up to 81 %. These results showed that thermally stable nanostructured MgAl2O4 are a promising candidate as catalyst for desulfurization in fluid catalytic cracking process.