Electrochemical method for producing hydrogen and sulfur
First Claim
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1. A method for removing sulfide ions from a sulfide ion containing solution comprising:
- providing a sulfide ion containing solution;
forming a mixture containing the sulfide ion containing solution by adding a sulfide concentration balancing amount of a basic solution; and
electrochemically precipitating sulfur from the mixture in an electrochemical cell.
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Abstract
A process for the electrochemical production of hydrogen gas and sulfur from hydrogen sulfide gas is disclosed. The process includes forming a substantially equimolar mixture of hydrosulfide and sodium hydrogen. That mixture is transferred to the anodic compartment of an electrochemical cell that includes a membrane that separates the anodic and cathodic compartments. A substantially pure sodium hydroxide solution is transferred to the cathodic compartment. Passage of an electric current through the electrolyte causes hydrogen gas to be produced at the cathode and sulfur in the anodic compartment.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for removing sulfide ions from a sulfide ion containing solution comprising:
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providing a sulfide ion containing solution; forming a mixture containing the sulfide ion containing solution by adding a sulfide concentration balancing amount of a basic solution; and electrochemically precipitating sulfur from the mixture in an electrochemical cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for removing sulfide ions from a sulfide ion containing solution comprising:
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providing a sulfide ion containing solution; forming a mixture containing the sulfide ion containing solution by adding a basic solution comprising hydroxide ions in which the molar ratio of the sulfide ions to the hydroxide ions is between about 2;
1 and about 2;
3; andelectrochemically precipitating sulfur from the mixture in an electrochemical cell. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method for producing hydrogen gas and sulfur from hydrogen sulfide gas comprising:
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providing a hydrosulfide containing solution; forming a mixture containing the hydrosulfide containing by adding solution a sulfide concentration balancing amount of a basic solution; transferring the mixture to an anodic compartment of an electrochemical cell having an anodic compartment having an anode and a cathodic compartment having a cathode; transferring a zero valence sulfur lacking basic solution to the cathodic compartment of the electrochemical cell; and passing an electric current through the mixture and the zero valence sulfur lacking basic solution at a sufficient current density for a sufficient time period producing hydrogen gas at the cathode in the cathodic compartment, and sulfur precipitate in the anodic compartment. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23)
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18. A method for producing hydrogen gas and sulfur from hydrogen sulfide gas comprising:
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providing a hydrosulfide containing solution; forming a mixture containing the hydrosulfide containing solution by adding a basic solution comprising hydroxide ions in which the molar ratio of the hydrosulfide to the hydroxide ions is between about 2;
1 and about 2;
3;transferring the mixture to an anodic compartment of an electrochemical cell having an anodic compartment having an anode and a cathodic compartment having a cathode; transferring a zero valence sulfur lacking basic solution to the cathodic compartment of the electrochemical cell; and passing an electric current through the mixture and the zero valence sulfur lacking basic solution at a sufficient current density for a sufficient time period to produce hydrogen gas at the cathode in the cathodic compartment, and sulfur precipitate in the anodic compartment. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method for producing hydrogen gas and sulfur from hydrogen sulfide gas comprising:
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absorbing hydrogen sulfide gas in a solution comprising a composition selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, and mixtures thereof, forming a hydrosulfide containing solution; adding a sulfide concentration balancing amount of a solution comprising a composition selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, and mixtures thereof, to the hydrosulfide containing solution forming a mixture; transferring the mixture to an anodic compartment of an electrochemical cell having an anode compartment having an anode, a cathodic compartment having a cathode, and a membrane that is substantially impenetrable to negatively charged sulfide and polysulfide ions that divides the anodic compartment from the cathodic compartment of the electrochemical cell; transferring a solution comprising selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, and mixtures thereof, to the cathodic compartment of the electrochemical cell; passing an electric current through the mixture producing hydrogen gas at the cathode in the cathodic compartment and sulfur precipitate in the anodic compartment; and separating the sulfur precipitate from the anodic compartment and the hydrogen gas from the cathodic compartment.
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24. A method for producing hydrogen gas and sulfur from hydrogen sulfide gas comprising:
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absorbing hydrogen sulfide gas in a solution comprising sodium hydroxide to produce a hydrosulfide containing solution; adding a sufficient amount of sodium hydroxide to the hydrosulfide containing solution to form a mixture that includes hydrosulfide and sodium hydroxide in a molar ratio between about 2;
1 and about 2;
3.transferring the mixture to an anodic compartment of an electrochemical cell having an anodic compartment having an anode, a cathodic compartment having a cathodic, and a membrane that is substantially impenetrable to negatively charged sulfide and polysulfide ions that divides the anodic compartment from the cathodic compartment of the electrochemical cell; transferring a zero valence sulfur lacking sodium hydroxide containing solution to the cathodic compartment of the electrochemical cell; heating the mixture to a temperature between about 60°
C. and about 110°
C.;passing an electric current through the mixture producing hydrogen gas at the cathode in the cathodic compartment and sulfur precipitate in the anodic compartment; and separating the sulfur precipitate from the anodic compartment and the hydrogen gas from the cathodic compartment. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification