Preparation of coal derived nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon for the catalytic oxidation of H₂S at room temperature

Nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon (NMCs) with high N doping level and developed mesoporous structure were prepared by a nanoscale-size SiO₂ template-assisted blend carbonization process, using anthracene oil (AO), one of distillates of coal tar, as carbon source and melamine (M) as nitrogen source. With the assistance of elemental analysis, FESEM/TEM, N₂ adsorption-desorption and XPS characterizations, the effects of various synthesis parameters on the chemical composition, pore structure and the catalytic performance of NMCs in H₂S oxidation at room temperature were investigated. The results show that NMC sample with suitable nitrogen doping level, abundant pyridinic/pyrrolic configurations, uniform large mesopore size, as well as high pore volume and specific surface area can be prepared by using appropriate amount of template agent, carbon/nitrogen source ratio and carbonization temperature (700℃), which exhibits high efficiency in the removal of H₂S through catalytic oxidation at room temperature.