Hydrogen sulfide conversion
Power is provided to an electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cell includes an anode side and a cathode side. A solution is flowed to the anode side. The solution includes hydrogen sulfide dissolved in water. Water is flowed to the cathode side. The water flowed to the cathode side can be in the form of steam. Providing power to the electrochemical cell facilitates production of sulfur dioxide on the anode side. Providing power to the electrochemical cell facilitates production of hydrogen on the cathode side. A membrane separating the anode side from the cathode side prevents flow of hydrogen sulfide, water, and sulfur dioxide from passing through the membrane while allowing hydrogen cations and oxygen anions to pass through the membrane. Sulfur dioxide is flowed out of the anode side. Hydrogen is flowed out of the cathode side.
1 . A method comprising:
providing power to an electrochemical cell, the electrochemical cell comprising an anode side and a cathode side;
flowing a solution to the anode side, the solution comprising hydrogen sulfide dissolved in water;
flowing water to the cathode side, wherein providing power to the electrochemical cell facilitates production of sulfur dioxide on the anode side and production of hydrogen on the cathode side;
preventing, by a membrane separating the anode side from the cathode side, flow of hydrogen sulfide, water, and sulfur dioxide from passing through the membrane while allowing hydrogen cations and oxygen anions to pass through the membrane;
flowing sulfur dioxide out of the anode side; and
flowing hydrogen out of the cathode side.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein production of hydrogen on the cathode side comprises electrolysis of the water into hydrogen and oxygen anions on the cathode side.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein production of sulfur dioxide on the anode side comprises reduction of the hydrogen sulfide into sulfur dioxide on the anode side, which produces hydrogen cations on the anode side.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the hydrogen cations produced on the anode side passes through the membrane to the cathode side, and production of hydrogen on the cathode side comprises reduction of the hydrogen cations on the cathode side.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the solution flowed to the anode side has a space velocity in a range of from about 1,000 per hour to about 50,000 per hour through the anode side, and the water flowed to the cathode side has a space velocity in a range of from about 1,000 per hour to about 50,000 per hour through the cathode side.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the membrane separating the anode side from the cathode side has a thickness in a range of from about 10 micrometers to about 5 millimeters.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the membrane separating the anode side from the cathode side comprises barium carbonate, zirconium oxide, cerium oxide, ytterbium oxide, and yttrium oxide.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the electrochemical cell is operated at an operating temperature in a range of from about 600 degrees Celsius (C) to about 900° C.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the power provided to the electrochemical cell has a voltage in a range of from about 1 volt (V) to about 3 V.
10 . The method of claim 9 , comprising converting at least a portion of the sulfur dioxide into sulfuric acid by contacting the sulfur dioxide with a metal oxide catalyst, wherein the metal oxide catalyst comprises vanadium or carbon.