PEMURNIAN BIOGAS DARI KANDUNGAN HIDROGEN SULFIDA (H2S) DENGAN NaOH, CuSO4, Fe2(SO4)3 DALAM PACKED COLUMN SECARA KONTINYU

Abstract

Biogas is potential for use as a fuel because of high methane content. However, the content of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) in the biogas is very harmful because it can cause corrosive to the equipment and can pollute the environment. Therefore, it is necessary to purify the Biogas first before being used as fuel either by absorption method. Much research is done to reduce the H₂S content in biogas physically, one with the membrane. However, membrane costly and so difficult to apply high-tech into society. Purification of biogas H2S content of the chemical absorption method gives various advantages. The advantage is high efficiency, fast reaction rates, and effectively used for low gas flow rate at normal conditions. Absorber used in this study were NaOH, CuSO₄, dan Fe₂(SO₄)₃ .Absorbent solution flowed into the packed column absorber, in contact with biogas flowing in counter current. The results indicate that the third absorbent NaOH, CuSO₄, and Fe₂ (SO₄)₃ can absorb H₂S. It is known that chemical absorption is affected by the fluid flow rate and the ratio L / G. From this study it was found that increasing the flow rate of absorbent causing the growing number of H₂S is absorbed as well by increasing the ratio L / G is the amount of H₂S is absorbed more and more as well. Although all three absorber can absorb H₂S, NaOH is more reactive than CuSO₄, and Fe₂ (SO₄) ₂.