Researchers Develop Breakthrough Desulfurization Technology

Professor Flytzani-Stephanopoulos and two of her research students, Z.Wang and M.Sakbodin, reported in the June 9 issue of Science (see abstract) on a new technology they developed to remove hydrogen sulfide from hot fuel gases before the gas is used for power production in high-temperature fuel cells or gas turbines. Regenerable sorbent materials are used, based on rare earth oxides, and the method involves working with very small sorbent volumes (at space velocities >100,000/h) to use just the surface of the sorbent. A PCT patent application was filed last year. News stories and commentaries on the new technology can be found in the Science Magazine, Chemistry World, and the Technology Review.