Experimental Study and Kinetic Analysis of CuO/γ-Al2O3 Absorbed SO2

Abstract

This study reports the results of an empirical evaluation of the effects of the Cu loading, concentration of SO₂, and temperature on the reaction of CuO/γ-Al₂O₃ and SO₂. In this experiment, the kinetic characteristics of the sulfation reaction of CuO/γ-Al₂O₃ particles are studied using the equivalent particle model. The result shows that surface reaction control zone and the diffusion control zone exist in this reaction, the demarcation point between the two zones is in the vicinity of 500°C. With increasing temperature, the conversion ratio of CuO/γ-Al₂O₃ absorbed SO₂ gradually increases, but at 500°C, the enhancement of the conversion ratio slows down. And where the first stage of the reaction between CuO/γ-Al₂O₃ and SO₂ is mainly controlled by surface chemical reaction with an activation energy (Ea) of 5.8 kJ/mol, and the latter stage is diffusion controlled with an Ea of 11.6 kJ/mol.