Sulfur compounds oxidation reactions

Apart from the above sulfide oxidation reactions, other sulfur compounds, such as sulfur and thiosulfate, can be oxidized by sulfur compound oxidizers. Furthermore, nitrate can be used as oxidant instead of oxygen. In Table 2 a list is shown of some other sulfur compound oxidation reactions occurring in chemotrophic sulfur compound oxidizing bacteria. It should be... 

Table 2 Overall reactions occurring in sulfur compound oxidizing bacteria (after [5])...

In chemical oxidation reactions, the first oxidation step (forming of sulfide radicals) is catalyzed by metal-ions like Fe, and Cu. In most sulfur compound oxidizing bacteria, the first step in the oxidation of sulfide to sulfur is catalyzed by the enzyme flavocytochrome c [3]. In a number of bacteria with the capacity to oxidize sulfide to sulfur, flavocytochrome c has not been found and other cytochromes or quinones are believed to catalyze the oxidation of sulfide in these organisms. 

Figure 11.16 Reactions of chemiluminescence using ozone. The scheme above summarizes the principle of transformation of a sulfur compound oxidized to sulfur dioxide in the excited state by ozone. Below, the final reaction can be applied to the measurement of ozone just as readily as for ethylene.

As for electrochemical oxidation of sulfur compounds, the reaction occurring at the anode was described by Eqn (14.5) in Section 14.1.1. SO2 may be produced in the process of oxidation. If the electrochemical reaction is in an acidic media, hydrogen and sulfate may obtained by adjusting the applied potential. 

Rhenium oxides have been studied as catalyst materials in oxidation reactions of sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide, sulfite to sulfate, and nitrite to nitrate. There has been no commercial development in this area. These compounds have also been used as catalysts for reductions, but appear not to have exceptional properties. Rhenium sulfide catalysts have been used for hydrogenations of organic compounds, including benzene and styrene, and for dehydrogenation of alcohols to give aldehydes (qv) and ketones (qv). The significant property of these catalyst systems is that they are not poisoned by sulfur compounds. 

Catalytic Oxidation. Catalytic oxidation is used only for gaseous streams because combustion reactions take place on the surface of the catalyst which otherwise would be covered by soHd material. Common catalysts are palladium [7440-05-3] and platinum [7440-06-4]. Because of the catalytic boost, operating temperatures and residence times are much lower which reduce operating costs. Catalysts in any treatment system are susceptible to poisoning (masking of or interference with the active sites). Catalysts can be poisoned or deactivated by sulfur, bismuth [7440-69-9] phosphoms [7723-14-0] arsenic, antimony, mercury, lead, zinc, tin [7440-31-5] or halogens (notably chlorine) platinum catalysts can tolerate sulfur compounds, but can be poisoned by chlorine. 

If sulfur is present, another iadustrially important compound results, 2-mercaptoben2othia2ole (2-ben2othia2olethiol [149-30-4]). Carbonyl sulfide is a coproduct of many carbon disulfide oxidation reactions. Some examples are... 

Metal oxides, sulfides, and hydrides form a transition between acid/base and metal catalysts. They catalyze hydrogenation/dehydro-genation as well as many of the reactions catalyzed by acids, such as cracking and isomerization. Their oxidation activity is related to the possibility of two valence states which allow oxygen to be released and reabsorbed alternately. Common examples are oxides of cobalt, iron, zinc, and chromium and hydrides of precious metals that can release hydrogen readily. Sulfide catalysts are more resistant than metals to the formation of coke deposits and to poisoning by sulfur compounds their main application is in hydrodesulfurization. 

Oxidative reactions frequently represent a convenient preparative route to synthetic intermediates and end products This chapter includes oxidations of alkanes and cycloalkanes, alkenes and cycloalkenes, dienes, aromatic fluorocarbons, alcohols, phenols, ethers, aldehydes and ketones, carboxylic acids, nitrogen compounds, and organophosphorus, -sulfur, -selenium, -iodine, and -boron compounds... 

Alkenes can be aminated in the allylic position by treatment with solutions of imido selenium compounds R—N—Se=N—R. The reaction, which is similar to the allylic oxidation of alkenes with Se02 (see 14-4), has been performed with R = t-Bu and R=Ts. The imido sulfur compound TsN=S=NTs has also been used... 

The sulfur-rich oxides S 0 and S 02 belong to the group of so-called lower oxides of sulfur named after the low oxidation state of the sulfur atom(s) compared to the best known oxide SO2 in which the sulfur is in the oxidation state +4. Sulfur monoxide SO is also a member of this class but is not subject of this review. The blue-green material of composition S2O3 described in the older literature has long been shown to be a mixture of salts with the cations S4 and Ss and polysulfate anions rather than a sulfur oxide [1,2]. Reliable reviews on the complex chemistry of the lower sulfur oxides have been published before [1, 3-6]. The present review deals with those sulfur oxides which contain at least one sulfur-sulfur bond and not more than two oxygen atoms. These species are important intermediates in a number of redox reactions of elemental sulfur and other sulfur compounds. 

Numerous oxidation reactions of sulfur compounds have been described in which S2O or its precursor SO are formed as intermediates but most of these reactions are not suitable to investigate the properties of S2O because of the low yield or the interference from by-products [1]. A relatively clean process is the reaction of oxygen atoms with COS producing SO and CO. The formation of S2O from gaseous SO is a stepwise process according to the following equations (M is a collision partner) [21] ... 

It is well established that sulfur compounds even in low parts per million concentrations in fuel gas are detrimental to MCFCs. The principal sulfur compound that has an adverse effect on cell performance is H2S. A nickel anode at anodic potentials reacts with H2S to form nickel sulfide. Chemisorption on Ni surfaces occurs, which can block active electrochemical sites. The tolerance of MCFCs to sulfur compounds is strongly dependent on temperature, pressure, gas composition, cell components, and system operation (i.e., recycle, venting, and gas cleanup). Nickel anode at anodic potentials reacts with H2S to form nickel sulfide. Moreover, oxidation of H2S in a combustion reaction, when recycling system is used, causes subsequent reaction with carbonate ions in the electrolyte [1]. Some researchers have tried to overcome this problem with additional device such as sulfur removal reactor. If the anode itself has a high tolerance to sulfur, the additional device is not required, hence, cutting the capital cost for MCFC plant. To enhance the anode performance on sulfur tolerance, ceria coating on anode is proposed. The main reason is that ceria can react with H2S [2,3] to protect Ni anode. 

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