Investigation of Sorption Capacity of Pumice for SO2 Capture

Abstract

The sorption capacity of pumice has been investigated for the removal of SO<inf>2</inf> from binary and tertiary mixtures with N<inf>2</inf> and N<inf>2</inf> + CO<inf>2</inf>, respectively. The influence of the presence of water on the adsorption of SO<inf>2</inf> has also been analyzed by moisturizing the adsorbent at different levels within the limits of applicability of Henry's law. SO<inf>2</inf> adsorption capacity of dry pumice was found as 16.26 mg SO<inf>2</inf> g-1 pumice while for adsorption on moisturized pumice (22 wt% moisture) it was 33.4 mg SO<inf>2</inf> g-1 pumice at 293 ± 2 K. When co-adsorption of CO<inf>2</inf> and SO<inf>2</inf> was carried out SO<inf>2</inf> adsorption on dry pumice was slightly reduced, but this counter effect of CO<inf>2</inf> was gradually removed by increasing water content of the adsorbent. Moreover, the acidic character of the adsorption products reduced the durability of pumice when it was moisturized. © 2007 The Institution of Chemical Engineers.