Sol-Gel Derived Nanocomposites and Nanoporous Oxide Powders and Related Coatings for the Reversible Chemisorption of Hydrogen Sulfide

Two types of nanocomposites and nanoporous powders and related coatings were prepared by the sol-gel route. These silica-based materials contain dispersed reactive oxides, ZnO and ZnCr₂O₄, respectively. Experiments evidenced their ability of reversible chemisorption of H₂S as ZnS. Their attractive porous characteristics (small pore size 2–2.5 nm, high specific surface area 900–1100 m²· g^–1, high porosity 50–60%) are not significantly modified during the successive treatments of H₂S chemisorption and oxide regeneration. These preliminary results encourage to pursue this study which aims at the preparation of nanofilters for the desulfurization of gas mixtures.