Novel ZnO-NiO-graphene-based sorbents for removal of hydrogen sulfide at intermediate temperature

•New family of reduced graphene Zn-Ni-rGO sorbents synthesized.•Prepared by non-expensive and easily replicable methods.•Studied for the first time for H2S reactive adsorption for syngas to biofuels.•Lab-scale performance studied for fixed bed desulfurization in syngas processing.•Better capacity at intermediate temperature than the commercial counterparts.