Preparation of Carbon-Supported Zinc Ferrite and Its Performance in the Catalytic Degradation of Mercaptan

Zinc ferrite supported on porous carbon (ZFPC) was prepared by thermal conversion of a mixture of ferric nitrate, zinc chloride, and novolac resin and was used as a catalyst for the catalytic oxidation of mercaptan under alkali-free conditions. ZFPC exhibited a high butyl mercaptan removal efficiency (222.29 mg/g), fast catalytic degradation rate, stable catalytic activity, and outstanding regenerative ability. It is believed that the effective butyl mercaptan removal was achieved by the synergism between adsorption of porous carbon and catalysis of zinc ferrite. The mechanism of catalytic oxidation of mercaptan into disulfides by ZFPC was further discussed based on the contrast experiment. The results indicated that oxidation of mercaptan in the presence of ZFPC followed the Merox process, in which Zn(II) acted as basic sites and Fe(III) acted as oxidation sites.