Influence of the CeO2 addition on the CuO/SBA-15 adsorbent performance for a DeSOx process under wet conditions

In order to reduce the negative impact of water vapor on the cyclic SO 2 adsorption performance of a CuO/SBA-15 material, the addition of CeO 2 to the copper active phase was performed at different Ce/Cu molar ratios and temperatures of the adsorption/regeneration cycles. The addition of CeO 2 to the CuO/SBA15 adsorbent with a Ce/Cu molar ratio of 0.68 increases the SO 2 adsorption capacity at the breakthrough by a factor of 3.4 (387 mg SO2 /g CuO vs 114 mg SO2 /g CuO ) with good performance over 20 cycles of SO 2 adsorption/regeneration under wet conditions at 450 °C. These enhancements are explained by a synergy effect between CuO and CeO 2 on the SO 2 adsorption reactions and a substantial decrease in the migration of the CuO active phase during adsorption/regeneration cycles under water vapor. • Addition of CeO 2 increases the SO 2 adsorption capacity of CuO/SBA-15 adsorbent by up to 3.4 times. • Increase SO 2 adsorption capacity is due to the synergistic effect between CuO and CeO 2 . • SO 2 adsorption performance of CeO 2 -CuO/SBA-15 adsorbent stable over 20 adsorption/regeneration cycles. • SO 2 adsorption capacity of CeO 2 -CuO/SBA-15 adsorbent stable under humid conditions.