Work

Cost-effective lanthanum-promoted iron catalyst on coal gangue-derived mesoporous γ-Al2O3 for SO2 catalytic reduction

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: A highly active and stable SO 2 reduction catalyst, 3%La-15%Fe/γ-Al 2 O 3 , was successfully synthesized using γ-Al 2 O 3 derived from coal gangue. The structural properties of the synthesized catalyst were analyzed using XPS, SEM, TEM, EDS, BET, XRD, and H 2 -TPR. Characterization studies revealed a high BET specific surface area of 288.55 m 2 /g for the coal gangue-derived mesoporous γ-Al 2 O 3 . Furthermore, lanthanum doping inhibited iron crystallite growth, enhancing dispersion on the support and contributing to superior catalytic performance. Under optimized conditions (380 °C, 6000 h −1 GHSV, and a CO/SO 2 ratio of 2), the catalyst achieved 98.92 ± 1.3% SO 2 conversion and 99.43 ± 0.7% selectivity to elemental sulfur. This high performance remained stable for over 50 h, demonstrating the catalyst’s potential for industrial application. The utilization of coal gangue-derived γ-Al 2 O 3 offers both economic and environmental benefits by providing a cost-effective support material and addressing coal gangue disposal challenges. This work presents a promising strategy for sustainable SO 2 abatement and resource utilization.

Source: Scientific Reports

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-19025-3

Authors: Mohammad Sepehrian, Mansoor Anbia, Fatemeh Yazdi

Institution: Iran University of Science and Technology

Language: English

Topic: Industrial Gas Emission Control

Subfield: Mechanical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Affordable and clean energy, Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,690