Hybrid TiO2−SiMgO X Composite for Combined Chemisorption and Photocatalytic Elimination of Gaseous H2S

Cheap natural sepiolite clay and TiO2 in the anatase form can easily be converted into an efficient hybrid adsorbent/photocatalytic material, usable for H2S and SO2 capture and odor elimination. This can be achieved by extrusion of powder mixtures combined with coating of photocatalytically active titania. By means of the sorption capacity of the sepiolite, it is possible to fixate gaseous sulfur species and by subsequent or simultaneous use of sunlight or artificial light sources, photocatalytic oxidation into oxidized sulfur compounds can be achieved without SO2 release. The formation of such compounds as final products makes it possible to regenerate the composite material after saturation by washing with normal water. This technology constitutes an economically promising, sustainable, nontoxic, future method for H2S elimination from the gas phase in sewage and wastewater treatment plants.