Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) conversion to hydrogen (H2) and value-added chemicals: Progress, challenges and outlook

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a toxic gas released from natural occurrences (such as volcanoes, hot springs, municipal waste decomposition) and human economic activities (such as natural gas treatment and biogas production). Even at very low concentrations, H2S can cause adverse health impacts and fatal...

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Main Authors: Chan, Yi Herng, Loy, Adrian Chun Minh, Cheah, Kin Wai, Chai, Slyvester Yew Wang, Ngu, Lock Hei, Ngu, Bing Shen, Li, Claudia, Lock, Serene Sow Mun, Wong, Mee Kee, Chin, Bridgid, Yiin, Chung Loong, Chan, Zhe Phak, Lam, Su Shiung
Format: Journal Article
Published: 2023
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/90018
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author Chan, Yi Herng
Loy, Adrian Chun Minh
Cheah, Kin Wai
Chai, Slyvester Yew Wang
Ngu, Lock Hei
Ngu, Bing Shen
Li, Claudia
Lock, Serene Sow Mun
Wong, Mee Kee
Chin, Bridgid
Yiin, Chung Loong
Chan, Zhe Phak
Lam, Su Shiung
author_facet Chan, Yi Herng
Loy, Adrian Chun Minh
Cheah, Kin Wai
Chai, Slyvester Yew Wang
Ngu, Lock Hei
Ngu, Bing Shen
Li, Claudia
Lock, Serene Sow Mun
Wong, Mee Kee
Chin, Bridgid
Yiin, Chung Loong
Chan, Zhe Phak
Lam, Su Shiung
author_sort Chan, Yi Herng
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a toxic gas released from natural occurrences (such as volcanoes, hot springs, municipal waste decomposition) and human economic activities (such as natural gas treatment and biogas production). Even at very low concentrations, H2S can cause adverse health impacts and fatality. As such, the containment and proper management of H2S is of paramount importance. The recovered H2S can then be transformed into hydrogen (H2) and various value-added products as a major step towards sustainability and circular economy. In this review, the state-of-the-art technologies for H2S conversion and utilization are reviewed and discussed. Claus process is an industrially established and matured technology used in converting H2S to sulfur and sulfuric acid. However, the process is energy intensive and emits CO2 and SO2. This calls for more sustainable and energy-efficient H2S conversion technologies. In particular, recent technologies for H2S conversion via thermal, biological, plasma (thermal and non-thermal), electrochemical and photocatalytic routes, are critically reviewed with respect to their strengths and limitations. Besides, the potential of diversified value-added products derived from H2S, such as H2, syngas, carbon disulfide (CS2), ammonium sulphate ((NH4)2SO4), ammonium thiosulfate ((NH4)2S2O3), methyl mercaptan (CH3SH) and ethylene (C2H4) are elucidated in detail with respect to the technology readiness level, market demand of products, technical requirements and environmental impacts. Lastly, the technological gaps and way forward for each technology are also outlined.
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
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last_indexed 2025-11-14T11:33:14Z
publishDate 2023
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-900182025-06-16T03:12:56Z Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) conversion to hydrogen (H2) and value-added chemicals: Progress, challenges and outlook Chan, Yi Herng Loy, Adrian Chun Minh Cheah, Kin Wai Chai, Slyvester Yew Wang Ngu, Lock Hei Ngu, Bing Shen Li, Claudia Lock, Serene Sow Mun Wong, Mee Kee Chin, Bridgid Yiin, Chung Loong Chan, Zhe Phak Lam, Su Shiung Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a toxic gas released from natural occurrences (such as volcanoes, hot springs, municipal waste decomposition) and human economic activities (such as natural gas treatment and biogas production). Even at very low concentrations, H2S can cause adverse health impacts and fatality. As such, the containment and proper management of H2S is of paramount importance. The recovered H2S can then be transformed into hydrogen (H2) and various value-added products as a major step towards sustainability and circular economy. In this review, the state-of-the-art technologies for H2S conversion and utilization are reviewed and discussed. Claus process is an industrially established and matured technology used in converting H2S to sulfur and sulfuric acid. However, the process is energy intensive and emits CO2 and SO2. This calls for more sustainable and energy-efficient H2S conversion technologies. In particular, recent technologies for H2S conversion via thermal, biological, plasma (thermal and non-thermal), electrochemical and photocatalytic routes, are critically reviewed with respect to their strengths and limitations. Besides, the potential of diversified value-added products derived from H2S, such as H2, syngas, carbon disulfide (CS2), ammonium sulphate ((NH4)2SO4), ammonium thiosulfate ((NH4)2S2O3), methyl mercaptan (CH3SH) and ethylene (C2H4) are elucidated in detail with respect to the technology readiness level, market demand of products, technical requirements and environmental impacts. Lastly, the technological gaps and way forward for each technology are also outlined. 2023 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/90018 10.1016/j.cej.2023.141398 fulltext
spellingShingle Chan, Yi Herng
Loy, Adrian Chun Minh
Cheah, Kin Wai
Chai, Slyvester Yew Wang
Ngu, Lock Hei
Ngu, Bing Shen
Li, Claudia
Lock, Serene Sow Mun
Wong, Mee Kee
Chin, Bridgid
Yiin, Chung Loong
Chan, Zhe Phak
Lam, Su Shiung
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) conversion to hydrogen (H2) and value-added chemicals: Progress, challenges and outlook
title Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) conversion to hydrogen (H2) and value-added chemicals: Progress, challenges and outlook
title_full Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) conversion to hydrogen (H2) and value-added chemicals: Progress, challenges and outlook
title_fullStr Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) conversion to hydrogen (H2) and value-added chemicals: Progress, challenges and outlook
title_full_unstemmed Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) conversion to hydrogen (H2) and value-added chemicals: Progress, challenges and outlook
title_short Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) conversion to hydrogen (H2) and value-added chemicals: Progress, challenges and outlook
title_sort hydrogen sulfide (h2s) conversion to hydrogen (h2) and value-added chemicals: progress, challenges and outlook
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/90018