Effect of Fe/Cu/Ce loading on the coal-based activated carbons for hydrolysis of carbonyl sulfide

Fe/Cu/Ce modified coal-based activated carbon (AC) was prepared by the sol-gel method, and the effect of Fe/Cu/Ce on catalytic properties of Fe/AC, Fe-Cu/AC and Fe-Cu-Ce/AC was investigated in the hydrolysis of carbonyl sulfide (COS) at 50 °C. Their surface properties were evaluated by means of nitrogen adsorption and were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The catalytic activities results showed that addition of Cu and Ce could enhance the activities of COS hydrolysis and Fe-Cu-Ce/AC with n(Fe):n(Ce)=20 exhibited a higher stability. The XRD and XPS results revealed that Cu loading controlled the crystalline phases and Ce could affect the crystalline phase of Fe2O3 and change the products formation and content of SO42−.