The catalytic incineration of ethyl mercaptan over a MnO/Fe₂O₃ catalyst

The catalytic incineration of ethyl mercaptan over a MnO/Fe₂O₃ fixed bed catalytic reactor was studied. The effects of operating parameters including inlet temperature, space velocity, C₂H₅SH concentration and O₂ concentration were characterized. Three kinetic models, such as power-rate law, the Mars and Van Krevelen model and the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model were used to analyze the results. A differential reactor design was used for best fit of kinetic models in this study. The results showed that the conversion of ethyl mercaptan was increased with an increase in the inlet temperature and a decrease in the space velocity. The conversion was lower at the higher concentration of ethyl mercaptan The O₂ concentration had a positive effect on the conversion of ethyl mercaptan. C₂H₅SH had a poisoning effect on the MnO/Fe₂O₃ catalyst, especially at a lower temperature. The Langmuir-Hinshelwood model may be feasible to describe the catalytic incineration of C₂H₅SH. This suggests that the chemical adsorption of O₂ molecule is important in the process of catalytic incineration of C₂H₅SH.