Back to Search Start Over

Production of hydrogen and sulfur from hydrogen sulfide in a nonthermal-plasma pulsed corona discharge reactor

Production of hydrogen and sulfur from hydrogen sulfide in a nonthermal-plasma pulsed corona discharge reactor

Authors :
Morris D. Argyle
Sanil John
Stanislaw Legowski
Ji-Jun Zhang
Jerry Hamann
John Ackerman
Gui-Bing Zhao
Suresh Muknahallipatna
Source :
Chemical Engineering Science. 62:2216-2227
Publication Year :
2007
Publisher :
Elsevier BV, 2007.

Abstract

Hydrogen sulfide ( H 2 S ) dissociation into hydrogen and sulfur has been studied in a pulsed corona discharge reactor (PCDR). Due to the high dielectric strength of pure H 2 S ( ∼ 2.9 times higher than air), a nonthermal plasma could not be sustained in pure H 2 S at discharge voltages up to 30 kV with our reactor geometry. Therefore, H 2 S was diluted with another gas with lower dielectric strength to reduce the breakdown voltage. Breakdown voltages of H 2 S in four balance gases (Ar, He, N 2 , and H 2 ) have been measured at different H 2 S concentrations and pressures. Breakdown voltages are proportional to the partial pressure of H 2 S and the balance gas. With increasing H 2 S concentrations, H 2 S conversion initially increases, reaches a maximum, and then decreases. H 2 S conversion and the reaction energy efficiency depend on the balance gas and H 2 S inlet concentrations. H 2 S conversion in atomic balance gases, such as Ar and He, is more efficient than that in diatomic balance gases, such as N 2 and H 2 . These observations can be explained by proposed reaction mechanisms of H 2 S dissociation in different balance gases. The results show that nonthermal plasmas are effective for dissociating H 2 S into hydrogen and sulfur.

Details

ISSN :
00092509
Volume :
62
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Chemical Engineering Science
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........0ae1bf6199965bb38b684a7f767cc68f
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2006.12.052