Abstract: Using activated carbon (AC) as a carrier, different metal-modified activated carbon adsorbents were prepared by equal volume impregnation method for the removal of thiophene in hydrogen, and the thiophene removal properties of transition metal modified adsorbents and Cu modified adsorbents with different contents were investigated by using fixed bed dynamic adsorption method. The adsorbents were characterized and analyzed by means of N2 physical adsorption- desorption (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX). The results showed that the activated carbon had the best desulfurization ability when the copper loading was 3%, and the permeation time of the thiophene was 22 h, which was 7 h longer than that of the unmodified activated carbon adsorbent. After modification of activated carbon with Cu, the porous structure of activated carbon still remained abundant, but the specific surface area and pore volume decreased, and the distribution of the active component CuO on the surface of the adsorbent was changed, it could promote the adsorption of thiophene by the modified adsorbent and improve the adsorption capacity of thiophene.

Key words: thiophene, adsorption, activated carbon adsorbent, copper