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Removal of hydrogen sulfide from biogas using banana peel and banana empty fruit bunch biochars as alternative adsorbents

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Abstract

Biogas, one of potential renewable energies, could play an effective role in fulfilling the world’s energy demand. The presence of elevated concentrations of H2S in biogas is problematic because of its highly corrosiveness and toxicity. Recently, there has been interest in utilizing biochar as alternative adsorbent to remove H2S from biogas. In this study, the adsorption capacity of banana peel biochar (BPB) and banana empty fruit bunch biochar (BEFBB) wastes for removing H2S from biogas was investigated. Biochar was produced through the pyrolysis process. Firstly, physical and chemical properties of biochar (moisture content, volatile compound content, ash content, fixed carbon, iodine number, pH, and BET surface) were determined. BEFBB possessed higher fixed carbon content (38.05%), iodine number (146.98 ± 2.29 mg g−1), pH value (8.7 ± 0.3), and larger BET surface (3.18 m2 g−1) than BPB. Secondly, the effect of biochar types and biochar pellet sizes on the adsorption capacity was investigated. The adsorption experiment was carried out, using anaerobically digested biogas, in a packed column containing 10 g of biochar with the pallet size of 1.0 cm of diameter, the initial H2S concentration of 500 ppm at the flowrate of 500 mL min−1. Adsorption efficiency curves showed that the two types of biochar presented high removal capacity for H2S but very low removal capacity for CH4 and CO2. The breakthrough adsorption capacity of BPB and BEFBB was found to be 5.85 mg g−1 and 7.65 mg g−1, respectively, consisting well with their physiochemical characterizations. Then, the effect of biochar pellet sizes on the removal efficiency was studied at three different pallet sizes (0.50 cm, 1.00 cm, and 1.50 cm of diameter). Smaller pellet size adsorbent showed higher removal efficiency than larger pellet size owning to its larger surface area. The FTIR analysis result of BEFBB shown that carboxylic and hydroxide radical groups were most likely responsible for H2S adsorption. Finally, the SEM/EDX results showed significant changes in morphological and chemical properties after the adsorption process. Therefore, BPB and BEFBB could be used as an alternative adsorbent for removing H2S from biogas.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), the national research council of Thailand (NRCT), and Thaksin University.

Funding

This work was financially supported by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) (Grant numbers [JRA-CO-2564–14773-TH]).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Thaksin University, Phattalung, 93210, Thailand

    Niramol Juntarachat & Usa Onthong

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  1. Niramol Juntarachat
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Contributions

N. Juntarachat contributed to drafting the manuscript, planning, preparing the adsorbent materials, performing the experiments, analyzing the data, reviewing, and revising the manuscript. U. Onthong contributed to supporting the biogas system and biogas production.

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Correspondence to Niramol Juntarachat.

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Statement of novelty

This work investigates the adsorption capacity of biochar derived from banana peel and banana empty fruit bunch wastes for removing hydrogen sulfide (H2S) from biogas. The adsorption capacity of biochar derived from banana empty fruit bunch (7.65 mg g−1) was higher than that derived from banana peel (5.85 mg g−1). This was attributed to its higher fixed carbon content, higher pH value, and larger BET surface area. Smaller pellet size adsorbent showed higher removal efficiency than larger pellet size owning to its larger surface area. The FTIR analysis result of BEFBB shown carboxylic and hydroxide radical groups which were responsible for H2S adsorption. The SEM/EDX results showed changes in morphological and chemical properties after the adsorption process, assuring the adsorption of H2S on BPB and BEFBB.

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Juntarachat, N., Onthong, U. Removal of hydrogen sulfide from biogas using banana peel and banana empty fruit bunch biochars as alternative adsorbents. Biomass Conv. Bioref. (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-022-03430-z

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