Title

UV photochemical oxidation of aqueous sodium sulfide to produce hydrogen and sulfur

Authors

Authors

C. A. Linkous; C. P. Huang;J. R. Fowler

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

J. Photochem. Photobiol. A-Chem.

Keywords

UV photolysis; hydrogen; hydrogen sulfide; sulfur recovery; sulfide; oxidation; THERMAL-DECOMPOSITION; ALKALINE-SOLUTION; CATALYSTS; SUSPENSIONS; SEPARATION; CLEAVAGE; VANADIUM; REACTOR; GAS; Chemistry, Physical

Abstract

Sodium sulfide solutions were illuminated with ultraviolet light ( lambda = 253.7 nm) to produce hydrogen and disulfide ion in equimolar amounts. The quantum efficiency for hydrogen production was as high as 27% for a 0.5 M Na2S solution in a batch reactor. While light intensity and sulfide concentration had a pronounced effect on reaction rate, the photochemical process was found to be pH independent within the range 8.5-13.3. A mechanism involving adsorption of bisulfide ion on the inner sleeve of the photoreactor is postulated. Elemental sulfur could be recovered from the disulfide solution via purging with H2S and then filtering. The resulting filtrate was also photoactive, suggesting the possibility of a continuous closed cycle photochemical operation for H2S decomposition into its constituent elements. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Journal Title

Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology a-Chemistry

Volume

168

Issue/Number

3

Publication Date

1-1-2004

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

153

Last Page

160

WOS Identifier

WOS:000225118000003

ISSN

1010-6030

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