Energy efficiency of hydrogen sulfide decomposition in a pulsed corona discharge reactor

A novel pulsed corona wire-in-tube reactor with quartz view-ports allowed visual observation of the effect of charge voltage and gas composition on the corona distribution. The H 2S conversion and energy efficiency of H 2S decomposition in this pulsed corona discharge reactor varied at constant power (100 W) due to the selected values of the electrical parameters of pulse forming capacitance (720–2880 pF), charge voltage (11–21 kV), and pulse frequency (157–961 Hz). Low pulse forming capacitance, low charge voltage, and high pulse frequency operation produces the highest energy efficiency for H 2S conversion at constant power. H 2S conversion is more efficient in Ar–N 2 gas mixtures than in Ar or N 2. These results can be explained by corona discharge observations, the electron attachment reactions of H 2S at the streamer energies, and a proposed reaction mechanism of H 2S dissociation in the Ar–N 2 gas mixture. The energy consumption per molecule of converted H 2S in an equimolar mixture of Ar and N 2 (4.9 eV/H 2S) is the lowest that has been reported for any plasma reactor operated at non-vacuum pressures. The results reveal the potential for energy efficient H 2S decomposition in pulsed corona discharge reactors.