Designed Synthesis of Fe/Zr Bimetallic Organic Framework to Enhance the Selective Conversion of H2S to Sulfur

The development of stable and effective catalysts to convert toxic H₂S into high value-added sulfur is essential for production safety and environmental protection. However, the inherent defects of traditional iron- and zirconium-based catalysts, such as poor activity, high oxygen consumption, and low sulfur selectivity, limit their further developments and applications. Herein, the Fe-Zr bimetallic organic framework FeUIO-66(x) with different cubic morphologies was synthesized via a facile solvothermal method. The results indicate that the introduction of Fe not only increases the specific surface area and weak L-sites of the catalyst without changing its crystal structure, which provides enough reaction space and more active sites for the adsorption and activation of H₂S, but also reduces the activation energy of the reaction, significantly promoting the selective oxidation of H₂S. As a result, the as-obtained FeUIO-66(1) catalyst exhibits the highest desulfurization activity and superior durability and water resistance stability, and its H₂S conversion and sulfur selectivity within 50 h are 100 and 88%, respectively. More importantly, the structure of the catalyst after the desulfurization reaction is consistent with that of the fresh counterpart. The study offers new insights into the development of effective and stable bimetallic catalysts to eliminate H₂S and recycle sulfur.