Characterization of Musa Paradisiaca Activated Carbon Supporting Iron Nanoparticles, after Adsorption of Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) from Biogas on a Fixed Bed Column

In this study, the characteristics of Musa Paradisiaca (MP) iron-funtionalysed activated carbon (AC) after adsorption of H 2 S from biogas were demonstrated. The AC was chemically impregnated with potassium hydroxide (KOH) and then carbonised at a temperature of 500°C for 3 hours for activation. The activated carbon was then functionalized with iron oxide (Fe 2 O 3 ) and labelled BANK-Fe. The H 2 S adsorption test was performed on a fixed bed column. The biogas flow rate was 1 L.min − 1 . with 25% water (w/w) added. This test resulted in an adsorption capacity of 9.86 mgH 2 S.g-1 after a saturation time of 615 minutes. This was satisfactory for the purposes of biogas treatment. The present work is a follow-up to the adsorption tests already carried out. The analyses on the functionalized activated carbon sample after adsorption underwent a physical and chemical change. The surface morphology was modified: the more or less homogeneous asperities of the BANK-Fe (before adsorption) gave way to a relatively more amorphous form. Sulphur elements were detected in the sample after adsorption, in contrast to the starting sample. This confirms the adsorption of H 2 S from the biogas. Oxygen and Iron in BANK-Fe decreased by 39.49% and 94.16% respectively in atomic concentration, which proves that they reacted and played a role in the H 2 S adsorption mechanism. In addition, the microporosity decreased by 35.71%: the iodine value decreased from 1065.96 mg.g − 1 to 685.26 mg.g-1. This indicates that part of the pores, in particular the micropores, was occupied by the pollutants during the adsorption of the biogas.