Adsorption of SO2 using vanadium and vanadium–copper supported on activated carbon

Activated carbon impregnated with precursor salts of Ba, Co, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb and V and their binary mixtures was used for adsorption of SO2 at 20 °C. The most promising materials for SO2 removal are carbons doped with V, Cu and mainly their binary mixtures, which show a synergetic effect. Kinetic curves and isotherms of SO2 adsorption were obtained at 20 °C. These isotherms are reasonably well fitted by the Langmuir model and the respective parameters were determined. TPD experiments show that adsorption of SO2 increases the oxygenated groups on the carbon surface. The sample doped with V, after SO2 adsorption at 20 °C, presents an increase of basic oxygenated groups, which may be responsible for the observed extra adsorption of SO2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]