Synthesis and characterization of surfactant modified MgO-pillared clays impregnated with Cu, Fe and Cu-Fe for H2S removal.

• Gabriela Carruyo Universidad del Zulia-Venezuela
• Eduardo González Universidad del Zulia-Venezuela
• Miguel Angel Ramos Instituto Zuliano de Investigaciones Tecnológicas-Venezuela
• Reinaldo Atencio Instituto Zuliano de Investigaciones Tecnológicas-Venezuela
• Tereza Bandosz The City College of The City of New York- United States
• Mykola Seredych The City College of The City of New York- United States
• Alexander Moronta Universidad del Zulia-Venezuela

Resumo

The aim of this study was to modify a synthetic clay with MgO and a non-ionic surfactant (Igepal CA-720), impregnated with Cu or Fe to evaluate the H2S removal. The Cu and Fe content was: 1.0; 8.0 and 15wt. %, bimetallic Cu-Fe solids were also prepared. The obtained materials were characterized by N2 adsorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), temperature programmed reduction (TPR) and thermogravimetic analysis (TGA). An increase of surface area, pore volume and mesoporosity was observed after clay modification with surfactant and MgO. The modified clay impregnated with Cu showed, by XRD, CuO phases which were confirmed by TPR profiles. The highest H2S removal was obtained for clay sample containing 15% of Cu. It was established that the surface reaction occurred over metallic sites while the porous structure of the material was kept intact after reaction.