Zinc-Based Adsorbents for Low-Temperature H ₂ S Removal: A Review on Mechanisms, Material Design, and Regeneration

Efficient removal of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) at low temperatures represents a critical challenge for clean energy production and environmentally friendly chemical processes. Among various desulfurization materials, zinc-based adsorbents have shown significant potential due to their excellent sulfur affinity, high desulfurization precision, and tunable surface properties. This review systematically elucidates the mechanisms, material design, and regeneration behavior of zinc-based materials for low-temperature H2S adsorption. It begins by examining the fundamental adsorption mechanisms, including the ion diffusion-based inward growth model and the cation migration-dominated hollow outward growth mechanism, while revealing how key parameters such as grain size, pore structure, and lattice defects govern desulfurization performance. Furthermore, the review comprehensively assesses four primary material design strategies: enhancing active site dispersion and mass transfer efficiency through supports like carbon materials, zeolites, metal–organic frameworks, and silica; tuning electronic and geometry structure via doping with transition metals, rare-earth elements, other promoters; and morphology control of nanostructure. The regeneration mechanisms of spent adsorbents are critically analyzed, including oxygen concentration and the formation of a spinel structure. Finally, the review outlines future research directions addressing atomic-level mechanistic understanding, byproduct control, cost-effective manufacturing, and green recycling of deactivated adsorbents, aiming to guide the design of high-efficiency zinc-based adsorbents.