The combustion of hydrogen sulphide studied by flash photolysis and kinetic spectroscopy

Abstract

The combustion of hydrogen sulphide has been investigated by the method of kinetic spectroscopy and flash photolysis. If no large excess of inert gas is present the reaction produces sulphur dioxide. The reaction has been shown to take place in steps in which the radicals SH and OH participate. Simultaneously with the appearance of the sulphur dioxide; a light emission has been observed which is attributed to the process: SO + O→SO2 + hv . In the presence of a large excess of inert gas the reaction results in S 2 O 2 . It has been shown that the formation of S 2 O 2 is favoured by a low temperature. Flash photolysis of hydrogen sulphide, sulphur dioxide and S 2 O 2 has also been investigated. In the last two cases the absorption spectra disappear temporarily. Inert gas prevents the disappearance of the SO 2 , but not that of S 2 O 2 . From an analysis of our results a mechanism for the combustion of hydrogen sulphide is derived and discussed.