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Laboratory Experiments on Electrochemical Remediation of the Environment. Part 5: Indirect H2S Remediation

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J. G. Ibanez

Centro Mexicano de Quimica en Micreoscala, Universidad Iberoamericana, Prol. Reforma 880, 01210 Mexico, D.F. Mexico

J. Chem. Educ., 2001, 78 (6), p 778

DOI: 10.1021/ed078p778

Publication Date (Web): June 1, 2001

Section:

History, Education, and Documentation

Abstract

Many polluting gases can be transformed to nonpolluting--or at least, less polluting--forms by changing the oxidation states of one or more of their constituent atoms. This can often be achieved by transferring electrons to or from the pollutant from or to an electrified interface. Since electrochemical remediation methods require an ion-conducting medium to perform their function, this can be accomplished either by using an absorption medium in an electrochemical cell (inner-cell process) or by absorbing the gas first and then transferring the absorption medium into the electrochemical cell to be treated (outer-cell process). Also, in such methods the polluting species can either undergo electron transfer on an electrode surface (direct method), or electrons can be shuttled to or from the electrode by an electron carrier (indirect method). We report here an experiment to demonstrate one way in which the electrochemical treatment of H₂S can be accomplished by bubbling it through an iodine solution. A dramatic change in color occurs, due to the oxidation of S^2- ions by I₂, producing a suspension of yellow elemental S and colorless iodide ions. The resulting solution is then electrolyzed, regenerating the iodine and producing pure hydrogen. This cycle can be repeated many times with the same solution.

Keywords (Audience):

First-Year Undergraduate / General

Keywords (Domain):

Environmental Chemistry

Keywords (Feature):

The Microscale Laboratory

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Hands-On Learning / Manipulatives

Keywords (Subject):

Electrochemistry

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  Abstract | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links