EFFECT OF SODIUM-IONS AND SULFATE ON ALUMINA AND SILICA ACTIVITY IN THE REACTION BETWEEN HYDROGEN-SULFIDE AND SULFUR-DIOXIDE

gamma-Alumina and silica were im pregnated with various amounts of sod ium hydroxide and sodium sulfate. Catalysts were characterised using I R, XRD, thermal analysis and test reactions. Their activity in the hyd rogen sulfide plus sulfur dioxide reaction was measured at 180 degrees C. It was established that sulfate species generated on gamma-alumina reduce the catalytic activity in the reaction between hydrogen sulfid e and sulfur dioxide, whereas sodium sulfate and sodium hydroxide impr egnated silica were the active catalysts in this process. Tile interac tion between sulfate and the support is discussed. A kind of support s trongly influences tile role of sulfate species in the reaction betwee n H2S and SO2.