AIChE Journal, Vol.45, No.2, 383-389, 1999
On reaction kinetics for the thermal decomposition of hydrogen sulfide
New kinetic data for the hydrogen sulfide decomposition reaction obtained from quartz tubular reactors over a temperature range of 800 - 1,250 degrees C are reported The study shows that the overall decomposition reaction has a first-order dependency on H2S concentrations at these temperatures. The regression of our experimental data gave an overall hydrogen sulfide decomposition reaction rare constant as k (m(3)/kmol.s) = (1.68 +/- 0.86) x 10(11) exp [( - 28, 940 +/- 840)/T]. Moreover for the first time, kinetic data from higher temperature (1,500 - 3,100 degrees C) shock-tube studies (Olschewski et al., 1994; Woiki and Roth, 1994) and the lower temperature flow reactor study (this work) are reconciled. A single rate constant for H2S decomposition reaction, k (m(3)/kmol . s) = (1.12 +/- 0.11) x 10(11) exp [ - (28,360 +/-200)/T] over a wide temperature range of 800 - 3,100 degrees C was Sound to represent satisfactorily the three sets of data.