Hydrogen Sulfide Removal via Sorption Process on Activated Carbon-Metal Oxide Composites Derived from Different...

Biomass exploitation is a global trend due to the circular economy and the environmentally friendly spirit. Numerous applications are now based on the use of biomass-derived products. Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is a highly toxic and environmentally hazardous gas which is emitted from various processes. Thus, the efficient removal of this toxic hazardous gas following cost-effective processes is an essential requirement. In this study, we present the synthesis and characterization of biomass-derived activated carbon/zinc oxide (ZnO@AC) composites from different biomass sources as potential candidates for H₂S sorption. The synthesis involved a facile method for activated carbon production via pyrolysis and chemical activation of biomass precursors (spent coffee, Aloe-Vera waste leaves, and corncob). Activated carbon production was followed by the incorporation of zinc oxide nanoparticles into the porous carbon matrix using a simple melt impregnation method. The synthesized ZnO@AC composites were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and nitrogen porosimetry. The H₂S removal performance of the ZnO@AC composites was evaluated through sorption experiments using a handmade apparatus. Our findings demonstrate that the Aloe-Vera-, spent coffee-, and corncob-derived composites exhibit superior H₂S sorption capacity up to 106 mg_H2S/g_ads., 66 mg_H2S/g_ads., and 47 mg_H2S/g_ads., respectively.