Effect of Cu-based sorbent precursor structure on the desulfurization performance of hydrogen-rich coke oven gas

Coke oven gas (COG) is a hydrogen-rich byproduct whose efficient utilization requires deep removal of organic sulfur compounds such as thiophene . While Cu-based sorbents exhibit excellent desulfurization performance, the influence of precursor structural characteristics on their activity remains poorly understood. In this study, the relationship between precursor assembly and desulfurization performance of unpromoted Cu/ZnO/Al 2 O 3 sorbents was systematically elucidated. Three synthesis routes were explored to tailor precursor structures, revealing that aurichalcite-derived precursors enable superior Cu dispersion, stronger Cu-Zn interaction, and enhanced reducibility of active sites. The optimized sorbent prepared via urea hydrolysis achieved an exceptional breakthrough sulfur capacity of 29.91 mg/g—nearly twice that of hydrotalcite-derived counterparts—without the use of additional promoters. Mechanistic analysis further demonstrates that the precursor structure governs the formation of highly reducible Cu species and promotes thiophene activation through improved hydrogenation pathways. These findings provide new insights into the design of high-performance Cu-based sorbents.