HYDROGEN-PRODUCTION BY H2S PHOTODECOMPOSITION ON ZNFE2O4 CATALYST

In this paper, a new photocatalyst, ZnFe2O4 spinel powder without any noble metal loading, was studied in a dispersion system irradiated with visible light and under different conditions. The typical results were that the hydrogen generation rate was 0.025 ml h-1 (mg catalyst)-1 in 25 ml of 0.1 M sulfide solution containing 25 mg ZnFe2O4 powder at pH 12. The u.v.-vis and XRD spectra show that the ZnFe2O4 powder absorbs visible light and has a spinel structure. The dependences of H-2 ProdUCtion rate on pH and concentration of sulfide were also studied. ZnFe2O4 spinel powder has a good performance for H2S photodecomposition at pH 8-12. The photocatalytic activity of ZnFe2O4 is much higher than that of ZnS-CdS under the same conditions.