A reactor for converting hydrogen sulfide into hydrogen gas and sulfur.

Decomposing gaseous hydrogen sulfide (H.sub.2S) having at least one pump supplying H.sub.2S gas in the form of bubbles; an aqueous acidic phase having at least one redox couple that do not mix with each other because of density difference and form an interface where they contact each other; and at least one column reactor having an organic phase with a density above the density of water and capable to dissolve elementary sulfur, where an oxidation reaction takes place in the interface by which the H.sub.2S bubbles carried into the organic phase through the pump are converted into elementary sulfur.

The present disclosure describes a hydrogen sulfide decomposition process for converting hydrogen sulfide into hydrogen gas and sulfur dioxide. Such a process can significantly increase the amount of available hydrogen gas. In fact, if each Claus unit in the U.S. creating elemental sulfur in traditional systems were replaced by this hydrogen sulfide decomposition process, 1.83 million metric tons of hydrogen gas could be produced. This represents about 20% of the annual hydrogen produced in the U.S. for any purpose, recovered and available for reuse. Additionally, if desired, the sulfur dioxide can be further processed to form sulfuric acid.

A reactive process for converting hydrogen sulfide into hydrogen gas and sulfur and a reactor for effecting such process.

Device for hydrogen sulfide plasma dissociation includes a plasma chemical reactor including an arc plasma generator that has a cathode and an anode; the anode having a working surface for contacting hydrogen sulfide plasma, wherein the working surface is made from a material that includes stainless steel, tungsten or molybdenum; the cathode having a tip for arc attachment where a cathode spot is formed, wherein the cathode tip is made from pure tungsten, pure molybdenum, a tungsten or molybdenum alloy with tungsten as a major component or a composite material in which tungsten or molybdenum is the major component; and a flow path configured to have an inlet for gaseous hydrogen sulfide for dissociation in plasma into hydrogen and sulfur, and an outlet for gaseous products of hydrogen sulfide plasma dissociation. Optionally, the alloy or composite material has up to 10% low work function elements (thorium, cerium, lanthanum, or zirconium).

Described are a low temperature plasma reaction device and a hydrogen sulfide decomposition method. The reaction device includes: a first cavity; a second cavity, the second cavity being embedded inside or outside the first cavity; an inner electrode, the inner electrode being arranged in the first cavity; an outer electrode; and a barrier dielectric arranged between the outer electrode and the inner electrode. The hydrogen sulfide decomposition method includes: implementing dielectric barrier discharge at the outer electrode and the inner electrode of the low temperature plasma reaction device, introducing a raw material gas containing hydrogen sulfide into the first cavity to implement a hydrogen sulfide decomposition method, and continuously introducing a thermally conductive medium into the second cavity in order to control the temperature of the first cavity of the low temperature plasma reaction device.

The present disclosure describes a hydrogen sulfide decomposition process for converting hydrogen sulfide into hydrogen gas and sulfur dioxide. Such a process can significantly increase the amount of available hydrogen gas. In fact, if each Claus unit in the U.S. creating elemental sulfur in traditional systems were replaced by this hydrogen sulfide decomposition process, 1.83 million metric tons of hydrogen gas could be produced. This represents about 20% of the annual hydrogen produced in the U.S. for any purpose, recovered and available for reuse. Additionally, if desired, the sulfur dioxide can be further processed to form sulfuric acid.

Disclosed is a process for the concurrent production of hydrogen and sulphur from a H.sub.2S-containing gas stream, with zero emissions. The method comprises the thermal oxidative cracking of H.sub.2S so as to form H.sub.2 and S.sub.2. Preferably, the oxidation is conducted using oxygen-enriched air, preferably pure oxygen. The ratio H.sub.2S/O.sub.2 in the feedstock is higher than 2:1, preferably in the range of 3:1-5:1.

Device for hydrogen sulfide plasma dissociation includes a plasma chemical reactor including an arc plasma generator that has a cathode and an anode; the anode having a working surface for contacting hydrogen sulfide plasma, wherein the working surface is made from a material that includes stainless steel, tungsten or molybdenum; the cathode having a tip for arc attachment where a cathode spot is formed, wherein the cathode tip is made from pure tungsten, pure molybdenum, a tungsten or molybdenum alloy with tungsten as a major component or a composite material in which tungsten or molybdenum is the major component; and a flow path configured to have an inlet for gaseous hydrogen sulfide for dissociation in plasma into hydrogen and sulfur, and an outlet for gaseous products of hydrogen sulfide plasma dissociation. Optionally, the alloy or composite material has up to 10% low work function elements (thorium, cerium, lanthanum, or zirconium).

A system includes a first chamber, a second chamber, an ultraviolet light source and a microwave source. The first chamber includes an inlet. The second chamber is adjacent the first chamber and includes an outlet and a waveguide. The ultraviolet light source resides within the waveguide of the second chamber. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.