Electrochemical Oxidation of the Sulfide Ion in Synthetic Geothermal Brines in Batch Cells Using Coke Electrodes

Abstract

The oxidation of the sulfide ion occurs efficiently in batch cells at massive coke electrodes. At all currents studied, the products included a low yield of elemental sulfur, which deposited on the anode; the yields of sulfate were also low, except at the highest current. The remaining products were soluble organosulfur species, indicating that the coke anodes acted sacrificially. The reaction displayed unusual kinetic behavior with respect to the disappearance of sulfide: a two-stage reaction was observed in which the loss of sulfide was faster in the early stages of reaction, while elemental sulfur deposited on the anode. A subsequent slower current-controlled reaction was associated with the formation of the remaining products