Effect of Reduced Graphite Oxide as Substrate for Zinc Oxide to Hydrogen Sulfide Adsorption

Abstract

Abstract: Zinc oxide (ZnO) and reduced graphite oxide (rGO) composites were synthesized and tested as adsorbents for the hydrogen sulfide (H2S) adsorption at mid-to-high (300 to 500 ℃) temperatures. In order to investigate the critical roles of oxygen containing functional groups, such as hydroxyl, epoxy and carboxyl groups, attached on rGO surface for the H2S adsorption, various characterization methods (TGA, XRD, FT-IR, SEM and XPS) were conducted. For the reduction process for graphite oxide (GO) to rGO, a microwave irradiation method was used, and it provided a mild reduction environment which can remain substantial amount of oxygen functional groups on rGO surface. Those functional groups were anchoring and holding nano-sized ZnO onto the 2D rGO surface; and it prevented the aggregation effect on the ZnO particles even at high temperature ranges