Recently, the 49th Geneva International Invention Exhibition was held in Switzerland. The University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) research team made their debut and won the gold award with their super-gravity selective desulfurization technology. The project was led by Associate Professor Qian Zhi from the School of Resources and Environment. Team members included UCAS master's graduate Wu Zhao, 2021 master's student in Environmental Engineering Duan Xiaoxi, 2022 master's student in Environmental Engineering Che Chi, 2023 master's student in Resources and Environment Sun Xingu, and 2023 master's student in Environmental Engineering Wang Menghan. This technology effectively addresses the global issue of gas desulfurization, especially proposing further solutions for treating gas containing hydrogen sulfide (H2S).
At the award ceremony, provided by the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences.
H2S is a highly toxic gas widely present in industrial gases, posing a serious threat to the environment and human health. The Qian Zhi team's super-gravity selective desulfurization technology innovates traditional desulfurization processes, significantly reducing the height of the desulfurization tower from the original 32 meters to 2.89 meters. The gas-liquid mass transfer efficiency is increased by an order of magnitude, the packing volume is reduced by nearly 40 times, while the selectivity of H2S is increased by nearly 8 times, achieving a 20% energy saving effect. Compared to leading global desulfurization technology companies, the super-gravity selective desulfurization technology has significant advantages in equipment volume and cost, with a height of only 10% of the competitor, volume only 2.5%, desulfurizer cost only 25%, and CO2 absorption rate only 10%.
The innovation of this technology lies in the scientific principles behind it. Team member and master's student Che Chi discovered through in-depth research that the oscillation deformation of liquid films under super-gravity conditions can generate super-diffusion phenomena, significantly accelerating the diffusion rate of gas molecules in the liquid. This discovery not only elucidates the efficient selective removal mechanism of H2S under super-gravity conditions but also provides a new perspective for further optimizing desulfurization processes.
Aluminum Oxide Plant Conducts Industrial Sideline Test on Supergravity Selective Desulfurization of Furnace Gas, Image Provided by University of Science and Technology of China
The development and application of this technology have attracted international attention in the market. The continuous advancement and application of this technology will provide new, efficient solutions for global industrial emission control, holding practical significance.
The Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions was founded in 1973 and is jointly organized by the Swiss Federal Government, the Geneva State Government, the Geneva City Government, and the World Intellectual Property Organization. Alongside the Nuremberg International Exhibition of Inventions in Germany and the Pittsburgh International Exhibition of Inventions in the United States, it is one of the three largest invention exhibitions globally, with one of the longest histories and largest scales. This edition of the Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions attracted over 1,000 invention projects from nearly 40 countries and regions. The University of Science and Technology of China made its debut appearance and immediately garnered attention and recognition from international peers and the organizing committee. This not only demonstrates the pioneering spirit of exploration among the faculty and students of the University of Science and Technology of China but also showcases the university's influence in scientific and technological research and international exchange and cooperation.
