Pulsed differential reactors and their use for kinetic studies of gas–solid reactions—application to mechanistic studies of the reactions of hydrogen sulfide and the alkaline minerals in coal

Abstract

An experimental system has been constructed and used to measure the rate of gas-solid reactions. The main advantages of the experimental technique are that it can be used to measure the individual rates of reactions when complex reactions occur simultaneously, and that it permits one to measure very accurately the isothermal rate of reaction of very exothermic or endothermic reactions. The components of the system are a microdifferential reactor, a gas chromatograph, and a pulse injector, all of which are available commercially. Pulses of reactive gas were injected periodically into the differential reactor and the pulses of gaseous reaction products were separated and analyzed by chromatographic techniques. The signal from the chromatograpgh was recorded and integrated. The injector and the integrator were synchronized so that completely automatic operation was possible. The system was used to measure the rate of reaction of hydrogen sulfide with the alkaline minerals which are present in coal, calcit, dolomite, and sidrite. Data are presented and the mathematical analysis of the data is described in detail.