Electrochemical oxidation of sulfide ion at a Ti/IrO2–Ta2O5 anode in the presence and absence of naphthenic acids

Abstract

Electrochemical oxidation of sulfide ion at a Ti/IrO2–Ta2O5 anode followed partial order kinetics (between current and mass transport control) in the absence and presence of chloride ion and of naphthenic acids, at sulfide concentrations typical of sour brines. The desired outcome was to promote the 2-electron oxidation of sulfide to elemental sulfide rather than the 8-electron oxidation to sulfate. Although elemental sulfur accumulated to some extent at low conversion of sulfide, sulfate ion became the principal product as the reaction progressed. At high conversion, the overall current efficiencies were typically higher than 50%, with material balance about 90%. However, this anode material was gradually poisoned by sulfide in long term use.