Catalytic production of elemental sulfur from the thermal decomposition of H2S in the presence of CO2

The feasibility of using a cobalt-molybdenum (Co-Mo) sulfide catalyst that was prepared from a commercial Co-Mo oxide catalyst for the production of elemental sulfur from hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in a packed bed catalytic reactor was studied. It was demonstrated that the desired sulfide catalyst could be prepared by first reducing, then sulphiding the corresponding oxide. The results showed that the prepared catalyst was capable of producing elemental sulfur from the thermal decomposition of H2S in the presence of CO2 over a temperature range of 465-700 degrees C and at atmospheric pressure. A specific rate coefficient was calculated as well as the Arrhenius parameters for the non-equilibrated reaction. The H2S decomposition reaction was found to be a second order reaction and have an activation energy of 114.4 kJ/mol (27.3 kcal/mol).