THE ACTION OF CARBON DISULPHIDE ON ALUMINA GEL

Abstract

The authors have investigated the yellow color observed when carbon disulphide was adsorbed by c.p. alumina at room temperature. The color is due to by-products of the reactions of carbon disulphide with residual water in the gel. The investigators of the CS2 + H2O reaction at higher temperature attribute the yellow to sulphur or aluminium sulphide. The color formed at room temperature is not due to either of these. The reaction products consist largely of hydrogen sulphide, water, and carbon dioxide, with small amounts of carbonyl sulphide and carbon monoxide. The yellow coloration has been found to be a mixture of sodium sulphide, sodium hydrosulphide, and sodium polysulphide. A mechanism is proposed for its formation.