Indirect hydrogen sulfide conversion—I. An acidic electrochemical process

Abstract A process has been investigated in which hydrogen sulfide is converted to elemental hydrogen and sulfur by an electrochemical method in strongly basic solution. The electrochemical method is indirect, in the sense that iodine is generated electrochemically (in strongly basic iodide solution) and rapidly disproportionates to yield iodate, which is then reacted with hydrogen sulfide to yield elemental sulfur. Hydrogen gas is produced electrochemically along with the soluble iodate. Both hydrogen and iodine are electrochemically generated at high current densities with high current efficiencies. Sulfur yield and overall reaction efficiency are impaired by the disproportionation of elemental sulfur to sulfide and sulfate in basic solution.