US4859292A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for H2 S electrolysis
Assignee: Texas A&M University System
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Filing: 1988-03-28
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Granted: 1989-08-22
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Expires: 2008-03-28
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for refining elemental sulphur and hydrogen gas from H 2 S is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for vapor phase electrolysis of H 2 S gas using a molten polysulfide electrolyte disposed in a matrix.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony J. Appleby
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:10
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25B; C25B1/00; C25B1/01; C25B1/02; H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/06; H01M8/0606; H01M8/0656; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
An electrochemical cell for the electrolysis of elemental sulfur and hydrogen gas from gaseous H 2 S, comprising: a molten sulfide electrolyte disposed in a porous matrix where said electrolyte is elevated to a temperature in the range of 285°-400° C., said matrix positioned between and in electrical contact with a porous anode and a porous cathode, the combination anode, matrix and cathode together being bounded by an electrically conductive plate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
An electrochemical cell for the electrolysis of elemental sulfur and hydrogen gas from gaseous H 2 S, comprising: a molten sulfide electrolyte disposed in a porous matrix where said electrolyte is elevated to a temperature in the range of 285°-400° C., said matrix positioned between and in electrical contact with a porous anode and a porous cathode, the combination anode, matrix and cathode together being bounded by an electrically conductive plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 where the conductive plate may exist as a separate or integral element of the combination anode, matrix and cathode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 2 where the conductive plate is comprised of graphite.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 where the anode is ribbed or waffled.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 4 where the anode is comprised of graphite felt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 where the matrix comprises lithium aluminate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 where the mean pore size of the matrix is less than the mean pore size of the anode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 where the cathode is comprised of a ribbed or waffled material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 8 where the cathode is comprised of porous nickel alloyed with chromium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 8 where the cathode is comprised of nickel or cobalt.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 8 where the cathode is comprised of transition metal sulfide materials.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 8 where the cathode is comprised of sulfide materials impregnated in porous graphite.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 8 where the cathode is comprised of sintered nickel or graphite.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1 where the electrolyte is comprised of an alkali polysulfide or mixtures of such polysulfides.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 14 where the electrolyte is comprised of a sodium polysulfide containing hydrogen sulfide.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for refining elemental sulphur and hydrogen gas from gaseous H 2 S adapted for use in an electrochemical cell comprising a molten electrolyte disposed in a porous matrix where said electrolyte is elevated to a temperature in the range of 285°-400° C., said matrix positioned between, and in electrical contact with, a porous anode and a porous cathode, where the combination anode, matrix, and cathode is bounded by a bipolar plate, said method comprising passing hydrogen sulfide gas through the cathode into the electrolyte while applying an electrical potential across the anode and cathode to form hydrogen ions at the cathode and form sulfide ions at the anode.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for refining elemental sulphur and hydrogen gas from gaseous H 2 S adapted for use in an electrochemical cell comprising a molten electrolyte disposed in a porous matrix where said electrolyte is elevated to a temperature in the range of 285°-400° C., said matrix positioned between, and in electrical contact with, a porous anode and a porous cathode, where the combination anode, matrix, and cathode is bounded by a bipolar plate, said method comprising passing hydrogen sulfide gas through the cathode into the electrolyte while applying an electrical potential across the anode and cathode to form hydrogen ions at the cathode and form sulfide ions at the anode.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 16 where the bipolar plate consists of graphite.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 16 where the anode is ribbed or waffled.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 18 where the anode is comprised of graphite felt.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 16 where the matrix consists of lithium aluminate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 16 where the mean pore size of the matrix is less than the mean pore size of the anode.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 16 where the electrolyte is comprised of a sodium polysulfide containing hydrogen sulfide.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 16 where the cathode is comprised of a ribbed or waffled material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 23 where the cathode is comprised of porous nickel alloyed with chromium.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
59 words
An electrochemical cell for the electrolysis of elemental sulphur and hydrogen gas from gaseous H 2 S, comprising in combination, a matrix disposed between a porous anode and a porous cathode, said matrix containing a molten polysulfide electrolyte heated to a temperature of 285°-400° C.; a graphite plate bounding, and in electrical contact with the anode and the cathode.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
59 words
An electrochemical cell for the electrolysis of elemental sulphur and hydrogen gas from gaseous H 2 S, comprising in combination, a matrix disposed between a porous anode and a porous cathode, said matrix containing a molten polysulfide electrolyte heated to a temperature of 285°-400° C.; a graphite plate bounding, and in electrical contact with the anode and the cathode.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 25 where said cathode is comprised of a ribbed or waffled material.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 25 where said cathode is comprised of one or more of a group consisting of porous nickel alloyed with chromium, nickel, cobalt or graphite.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of electrolyzing hydrogen sulfide to form hydrogen and sulfur, comprising: saturating a porous matrix with a molten polysulfide electrolyte, where said electrolyte is elevated to a temperature in the range of 285°-400° C.; contacting the molten electrolyte with a porous anode and a porous cathode to form an electrolytic cell; passing hydrogen sulfide gas through the porous cathode into the electrolyte while applying an electrical potential across the anode and cathode to form hydrogen from the hydrogen ions at the cathode and to form sulfur from the sulfide ions at the anode; and withdrawing hydrogen from the cathode and sulfur from the anode.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of electrolyzing hydrogen sulfide to form hydrogen and sulfur, comprising: saturating a porous matrix with a molten polysulfide electrolyte, where said electrolyte is elevated to a temperature in the range of 285°-400° C.; contacting the molten electrolyte with a porous anode and a porous cathode to form an electrolytic cell; passing hydrogen sulfide gas through the porous cathode into the electrolyte while applying an electrical potential across the anode and cathode to form hydrogen from the hydrogen ions at the cathode and to form sulfur from the sulfide ions at the anode; and withdrawing hydrogen from the cathode and sulfur from the anode.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 28 wherein the matrix is comprised of lithium aluminate.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 28 wherein the anode or the cathode consist of a ribbed or a waffled material.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-08-21 | 1993-02-20 | 1993-08-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-08-21 | 1997-02-20 | 1997-08-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-08-21 | 2001-02-20 | 2001-08-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |