Preparation of activated ceria and its desulfurization performance

Activated ceria (CeO2/gamma-Al2O3) prepared by impregnation was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction (TPR). The desulfurization of the activated ceria was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TG). The results showed that ceria could be highly dispersed or crystallized on the surface of.-alumina. The reduction temperatures of 0.1CeO(2)/gamma-Al2O3, 0.45CeO(2)/gamma-Al2O3, and CeO2 ranged from 250 degrees C to 470 degrees C, 330 degrees C to 550 degrees C, and 350 degrees C to 550 degrees C, respectively. The reduction peak temperature of 0.45CeO(2)/gamma-Al2O3 was higher than that of 0.1CeO(2)/gamma-Al2O3, which was consistent with the reduction temperature of CeO2. O-2 participated in the reaction between ceria and sulfur dioxide. The desulfurization product was cerium(III) sulfate. The intensity of the hydroxyl band decreased with the formation of sulfate species.