Development of Hydrogen Recycling Systems for Petroleum Refineries: Hydrogen Sulfide Decomposition Using Titania Photocatalyst

H2S decomposition was examined in the gas and liquid phases over TiO2 photocatalyst. In the gas phase reaction, H-2 was obtained 16 using TiO2 as a photocatalyst. After the photocatalytic reaction, the color of TiO2 changed from white to yellow. SEM-EDS results revealed that sulfur was present on the TiO2 surface. H-2 evolution rate was remarkably higher in the liquid phase reaction than in the gas phase reaction. Thus, liquid phase reaction is optimal to obtain H-2 from the decomposition of H2S. Ethanolamine as a solvent of H2S underwent little photocatalytic decomposition. TiO2 photocatalyst has high potential for use in a new H-2 recycling process in the petroleum industry.