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

    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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