Nano-ZnO desulfurizer doped with cerium was prepared by homogeneous precipitation. The bulk and surface structures were characterized by TG-DTA, XRD, XPS and TEM. The desulfurizing performance at ambient temperature was studied. The results show that at ambient temperature the desulfurizing activities of nano-Ce-ZnO desulfurizer are closely related to the particle size, the electron density on desulfurizer surface and the quantity of active sites. Compared with nano-ZnO, nano-Ce-ZnO desulfurizer calcined at 270 ℃ showed smaller particle size and higher surface electron density, which favored the adsorption and reaction of H2S, resulting in improved desulfurizing activity at ambient temperature since the quantity of Zn(2-δ)+ became greater by electron gain of zinc ion from cerium ion. The tendency for zinc and cerium to be separated out as individual oxide from Ce-ZnO desulfurizer would increase as the calcination temperature was raised. The enrichment of cerium on the surface of ZnO made decrease the active sites for H2S adsorption, which led to the decrease in desulfurization activity at ambient temperature.
