SO2 and NO selective adsorption properties of coal-based activated carbons

The aim of this paper is to study binary gas adsorption on the activated carbon in the fixed-bed reactor. Coal-based granular activated carbons can selectively adsorb SO2 and NO. Physically adsorbed NO is replaced and desorbed by SO2. Chemically adsorbed NO can promote the absorption of SO2. The presence of SO2 and NO can enhance the chemical adsorption of NO and SO2 respectively. When the diameter of granular activated carbon decreases and the specific surface area increases, both the penetration time of the activated carbon bed and SO2 removal efficiency increase. The whole removal efficiency of SO2 is more than 99%, in the penetration time. but the whole removal efficiency of NO is only 55% in the coexistence of SO2 and NO. SO2 adsorption capacity of HNO3 dipped granular activated carbon is higher than that of non-treated one. The two experimental results are agree with each other. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.