Hydrogen sulfide conversion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024133048-A1
Application number	US-202218047781-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 18, 2022
Priority date	Oct 19, 2022
Publication date	Apr 25, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

Power is provided to an electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cell includes an anode side and a cathode side. Hydrogen sulfide in a liquid state is flowed to the anode side. Providing power to the electrochemical cell facilitates electrolysis of the hydrogen sulfide to produce sulfur and protons on the anode side. Providing power to the electrochemical cell facilitates reduction of protons to produce hydrogen on the cathode side. A membrane separating the anode side from the cathode side prevents flow of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur from passing through the membrane while allowing hydrogen cations to pass through the membrane. Sulfur is flowed out of the anode side. Hydrogen is flowed out of the cathode side.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
providing power to an electrochemical cell, the electrochemical cell comprising an anode side and a cathode side; flowing hydrogen sulfide in a liquid state to the anode side, wherein providing power to the electrochemical cell facilitates electrolysis of the hydrogen sulfide to produce sulfur and protons on the anode side and reduction of protons to produce hydrogen on the cathode side; preventing, by a membrane separating the anode side from the cathode side, flow of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur from passing through the membrane while allowing hydrogen cations to pass through the membrane; flowing sulfur out of the anode side; and flowing hydrogen out of the cathode side.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen cations produced on the anode side pass through the membrane to the cathode side, and providing power to the electrochemical cell facilitates reduction of the hydrogen cations that have passed through the membrane to produce hydrogen on the cathode side.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the hydrogen sulfide flowed to the anode side has a space velocity in a range of from about 1,000 per hour to about 50,000 per hour through the anode side.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the membrane separating the anode side from the cathode side has a thickness in a range of from about 1 micrometer to about 500 micrometers.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the membrane separating the anode side from the cathode side comprises a polymer proton-exchange membrane that is an electrical insulator and configured to conduct protons.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the electrochemical cell is operated at an operating temperature in a range of from about 25 degrees Celsius (° C.) to about 100° C.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the power provided to the electrochemical cell has a voltage in a range of from about 1 volt (V) to about 3 V.

8 . The method of claim 7 , comprising, after producing the sulfur, heating the electrochemical cell to a sulfur melting temperature of about 150° C. to liquefy the sulfur, such that the sulfur can flow out of the anode side.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the anode side of the electrochemical cell is operated liquid full.

10 . A system comprising:
an electrochemical cell comprising:
an anode at least partially disposed in an anode side of the electrochemical cell;
a cathode at least partially disposed in a cathode side of the electrochemical cell; and
a membrane separating the anode side from the cathode side, the membrane configured to prevent flow of hydrogen sulfide, sulfur, and electrons from passing through the membrane while allowing cations to pass through the membrane; and
hydrogen sulfide in a liquid state entering the anode side, wherein the electrochemical cell is configured to, in response to a voltage applied across the anode and the cathode, perform electrolysis on the hydrogen sulfide to produce sulfur and protons on the anode side.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the membrane is configured to allow the protons to pass from the anode side through the membrane to the cathode side, and the electrochemical cell is configured to, in response to the voltage applied across the anode and the cathode, produce hydrogen on the cathode side.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein production of hydrogen on the cathode side comprises reduction of the protons on the cathode side.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the hydrogen sulfide entering the anode side has a space velocity in a range of from about 1,000 per hour to about 50,000 per hour through the anode side.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the membrane has a thickness in a range of from about 1 micrometer to about 500 micrometers.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the membrane comprises a polymer proton-exchange membrane that is an electrical insulator and configured to conduct protons.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the electrochemical cell is configured to operate at an operating temperature in a range of from about 25 degrees Celsius (° C.) to about 100° C.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the voltage applied across the anode and the cathode has a voltage in a range of from about 1 volt (V) to about 3 V.

18 . The system of claim 17 , comprises a heater coupled to the electrochemical cell, the heater configured to heat the electrochemical cell to a sulfur melting temperature of about 150° C. to liquefy the sulfur, such that the sulfur can flow out of the anode side.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the anode side of the electrochemical cell is configured to operate liquid full.

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co

Inventors

• Al-Janabi Yahya T
• Hammad Ahmad D

Classifications

• C25B9/05

  Pressure cells · CPC title

• C25B1/01

  Products · CPC title

• C25B1/02 Primary

  Hydrogen or oxygen · CPC title

• C25B9/23

  comprising ion-exchange membranes in or on which electrode material is embedded · CPC title

• C25B9/67

  Heating or cooling means · CPC title