PYROLYSIS OF ETHYL MERCAPTAN

Abstract

The decomposition of ethyl mercaptan to ethylene and hydrogen sulphide was studied at various temperatures, with and without a catalyst. Metal sulphides (copper, nickel, and cadmium) proved to be the most efficient catalysts for cracking ethyl mercaptan into unsaturated end products, the optimum temperature being 500–600 °C. When no catalyst was used a 40–50% yield of ethylene and a nearly quantitative conversion to hydrogen sulphide was observed between 600 and 700 °C. Other products identified in the exit gas were carbon disulphide, carbonyl sulphide, methane, hydrogen, ethane, thiophene, diethyl sulphide, and free sulphur. Identification of these products was aided by infrared and mass spectral analysis of the gas. A tentative mechanism for the reaction justifying the presence of the above by-products is outlined.