Experimental and kinetic modelling study of H2S oxidation

Oxidation of H2S in an atmospheric pressure flow reactor at temperatures from 950 to 1150 K has been studied under fuel-lean conditions (1.9 < [O2]0/[H2S]0 < 10). The reaction is strongly catalysed by silica surface but this effect is suppressed with application of a B2O3 coating to the silica. A feature of the reaction is the high selectivity (∼40%) to H2 formation, even in the presence of a large excess of oxygen.A comprehensive chemical kinetic model for H2S oxidation has been developed. The model includes detailed chemistry for disulfur interactions based on recent experimental and theoretical work. The model shows extraordinary sensitivity to the rates of a significant number of reactions that determine the radical concentrations during the oxidation process. Minor variations (