Metal organic framework derived NaCoxOy for room temperature hydrogen sulfide removal

Novel NaCoxOy adsorbents were fabricated by air calcination of (Na,Co)-organic frameworks at 700 °C. The NaCoxOy crystallized as hexagonal microsheets of 100–200 nm thickness with the presence of some polyhedral nanocrystals. The surface area was in the range of 1.15–1.90 m2 g−1. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis confirmed Co2+ and Co3+ sites in MOFs, which were preserved in NaCoxOy. The synthesized adsorbents were studied for room-temperature H2S removal in both dry and moist conditions. NaCoxOy adsorbents were found ~ 80 times better than the MOF precursors. The maximum adsorption capacity of 168.2 mg g−1 was recorded for a 500 ppm H2S concentration flowing at a rate of 0.1 L min−1. The adsorption capacity decreased in the moist condition due to the competitive nature of water molecules for the H2S-binding sites. The PXRD analysis predicted Co3S4, CoSO4, Co3O4, and Co(OH)2 in the H2S-exposed sample. The XPS analysis confirmed the formation of sulfide, sulfur, and sulfate as the products of H2S oxidation at room temperature. The work reported here is the first study on the use of NaCoxOy type materials for H2S remediation.